skate on
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To escape punishment, such as by being acquitted in court.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
I don't know how she skated on those charges, but the jury said not guilty.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To barely hold on or maintain.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “skate on” mean?
To escape punishment, such as by being acquitted in court.
Is “skate on” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.