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off the hook 从困境中脱身

Hook 是钩子的意思

Off the hook脱钩，其实就是脱身，或是摆脱责任的意思

不难想象，off the hook这个习惯用语是从钓鱼来的，最早的时候是指一条本来已经咬钩的鱼又脱了钩，重获自由，后来到十九世纪中叶，才引伸为摆脱困境和摆脱责任。

I wasn't prepared to let her off the hook that easily.

我不准备让她那么轻易脱身的。

Thanks for getting me off the hook. I didn't want to attend that meeting.

谢谢你帮我脱身，我本来不想参加那个会议的。

I couldn't get myself off the hook no matter what I tried.

不论如何我都没办法让我自己脱身。

A: "I thought you had that big work event tonight."

我以为你今晚有个重要会议。

B: "No, it got canceled, so I'm off the hook."

取消了，所以我可以脱身了。