expression
no penalty; no punishment; acquittal; impunity
Used when someone escapes blame, punishment, or negative consequences, often in informal or conversational contexts. The お prefix adds a polite or softening tone.
遅刻してもお咎めなしだった。
Even though I was late, I got off without any reprimand.
今回のミスはお咎めなしにしてもらった。
They let this mistake slide without any punishment.
不問 is more formal and often used in official contexts, while お咎めなし is a colloquial expression.
免罪 refers to formal exoneration or pardon, whereas お咎めなし implies simply not being held accountable.
From お (honorific prefix) + 咎め (blame, reprimand) + なし (without). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is a fixed expression meaning 'without blame'.