give somebody a free pass
US /ɡɪv ˈsʌmˌbɑːdi ə fri pæs/
UK /ɡɪv ˈsʌmˌbɑːdi ə fri pæs/

1.
放一马, 网开一面
to allow someone to do something wrong or undesirable without being criticized or punished
:
•
The teacher decided to give him a free pass on the late assignment because he had been sick.
老师决定放他一马,因为他生病了,所以迟交作业。
•
We shouldn't give politicians a free pass when they make mistakes.
当政客犯错时,我们不应该放他们一马。