get out of jail free card

noun phrase

variants or Get Out of Jail Free card or less commonly get-out-of-jail-free card

: something (such as a pardon or excuse) that allows someone to avoid accountability for bad behavior or poor performance

A woman who stole goods from three shops in one day was given a "get out of jail free card," but was warned … she would be sent to prison if she did not co-operate with the Probation Service.

—Liam Heylin

Every player, on offense or defense, wants to run around with freedom. But there are rules. For everybody. I don't know how a rookie thinks he deserves a Get Out of Jail Free card.

—Steve Rosenbloom

Is sex addiction, especially if self-diagnosed, a get-out-of-jail-free card for cheating?

—Amy Dickinson

Word History

Etymology

from the card of the same name in the board game Monopoly that releases a player from the jail square

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above