Meaning of you can beat the rap, but you can't beat the ride | Babel Free

Definitions

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.

informal

Examples

“But you get to the point of you can beat the rap, but you cannot beat the ride, and that is really a good description I think of a lot of litigation, and what the patent trolls rely on. All right, it is going to be hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars to hire a lawyer. I can beat the rap, but I am going to end with a million-dollar ride.”

“The jury might acquit you - you could beat the rap. But hang on tight, Rick. You're not going to beat the ride.”

“"The charge?" Chalmers rattled off a list of offenses, a few of which turned Prance's already defeated mood more solemn. "Give me a break," he said. "You can always beat the rap, but you can't beat the ride. Captain, you are going for a goddamn long ride."”

CEFR level