Grammar fix
go unpunished
go unpunished
To receive no punishment after doing something wrong.
collocation
How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
The company broke the safety rules, but the managers went unpunished.
I find it frustrating when powerful people break the rules and go unpunished, because ordinary people would be treated much more harshly.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: The thief got unpunished.
Say: The thief went unpunished.
Use 'go unpunished' when the wrongdoer receives no punishment; do not use 'get unpunished'.
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
Do something wrong and face no trouble
How formalConversationalFormal
get away withSomeone does something wrong without being caught or punished.get offSomeone escapes punishment, especially after an official decision.
go unpunishedYou're here · Focuses on wrongdoing receiving no punishment.