ungeschoren
unscathed · scot-free
Definition & meaning
ungeschoren means unharmed, unpunished, or without suffering negative consequences. It is most commonly used figuratively:
- ungeschoren davonkommen — to get away with something; to escape unpunished
- nicht ungeschoren davonkommen — not to escape consequences
It can also have a literal meaning: not shorn or not having had the hair, wool, or fur cut off. This use is mainly associated with animals such as sheep.
Grammar & Word origin
ungeschoren is an adjective and can also be used adverbially. It is formed from:
- un- — a prefix expressing negation or absence
- geschoren — the past participle of scheren , “to shear” or “to shave”
Literally, ungeschoren means “not shorn.” The figurative meaning developed from the idea of escaping an unpleasant experience without being harmed or punished.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- unbeschadet — unharmed or without damage; more formal and often used for things or conditions
- straffrei — unpunished or not subject to a penalty; specifically emphasizes the absence of legal punishment
- folgenlos — without consequences; focuses on the result rather than on personal harm
- heil — safe and intact; less specifically connected with punishment or blame
Antonyms
- bestraft — punished; the clearest opposite when ungeschoren refers to escaping punishment
- geschädigt — harmed or damaged; the opposite when it refers to remaining unharmed
- zur Rechenschaft gezogen — held accountable; stronger and more explicit than the general idea expressed by ungeschoren
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Er kommt nicht ungeschoren davon.adjective
He does not get away unscathed.
Die Betrüger blieben diesmal nicht ungeschoren.adjective
This time, the fraudsters did not get off unscathed.
Warum lässt du ihn immer ungeschoren davonkommen?adjective
Why do you always let him get away scot-free?
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