English Explanatory Dictionary

you can beat the rap, but you can't beat the ride

English dictionary entry

Meanings

phrase
  1. You can't escape the inconvenience and/or cost of the legal process even if you are innocent and the charges are ultimately dropped or you get acquitted.

Word forms

you can beat the rap, but you can't beat the ride

Etymology

See rap (“record of arrest and prosecution”). The "ride" is being taken away in the back of a police car. Already known as a saying in 1973.

Related words

beat the rap
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on Y Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary