Grammar fix
give someone a pass
excuse a mistake
To excuse someone for a mistake or a small piece of bad behaviour.
How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inMostly spoken
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
I was late for the interview, but the manager gave me a pass because the trains had stopped.
My parents usually give me a pass if I make a small mistake at home, as long as I admit it and fix the problem.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: The teacher let me a pass for being late.
Say: The teacher gave me a pass for being late.
Use 'give someone a pass' for this meaning; 'let someone a pass' is not standard English. This phrase is especially common in US English.
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
Decide not to punish someone
What they escapeBlamePunishment
give someone a passYou're here · Especially American: excuse a mistake or instance of bad behaviour.
let someone off the hookFree someone from blame, punishment, or an unwelcome obligation.let offSomeone with authority chooses not to impose the expected punishment.