The phrase "gotten away with" is commonly used to describe someone who has successfully evaded punishment for a wrongdoing. The spelling of "gotten" is unique to American English and is pronounced /ɡɑːtən/. It is the past participle of "get," which is pronounced /ɡet/. In British English, the past participle is "got," which is pronounced /ɡɒt/. The phrase "gotten away with" is also pronounced with a glottal stop /t/ as in /ɡɑːʔən əˈweɪ wɪð/.
The phrase "gotten away with" is an idiomatic expression that typically means to successfully avoid punishment or consequences for one's actions, especially when those actions are considered illegal, immoral, or deceitful. It refers to someone managing to escape or elude accountability or penalty for something they have done.
The term "gotten" is the past participle form of the verb "get," implying the acquisition or achievement of a desired outcome. "Away with" implies a sense of escaping or evading something. When used together, "gotten away with" conveys the notion of successfully avoiding justice or facing the repercussions for one's behavior.
This phrase is often used to describe situations where an individual has managed to escape detection or capture by authorities or to express frustration or disappointment in cases where wrongdoings or offenses have not been adequately addressed or punished. It implies a sense of unfairness or injustice, suggesting that the person responsible has avoided the consequences that would typically follow their actions.
Overall, "gotten away with" reflects the ability to avoid punishment or accountability for an act, emphasizing that the person in question has managed to escape unscathed from their wrongdoing or misconduct.