cheat the hangman

Etymology
In full "cheat the hangman of his fee", since a hangman would not be paid if there was nobody to hang.

Verb

 * 1) To die, especially by suicide, while under sentence of death, or while guilty of a capital crime; also, to kill someone else who is in such a state.
 * 2) To escape punishment for one's crimes; to get away with something.
 * 1) To escape punishment for one's crimes; to get away with something.
 * 1) To escape punishment for one's crimes; to get away with something.