escape clause
1
5.5
- noun
- /ɪˈskeɪp klɔz/
- Formal
:
cláusula de escape
- Due to unforeseen circumstances, he was able to invoke the escape clause in his agreement.
- exercise an escape clause
Examples
-
Though a good deal less physical than Pal, Corvo was no fool, and she knew an escape clause when she saw one.
Fiction book (1991) -
I am an Australian, so this legislation is not relevant to me, but I think you guys in California should be trying to ensure that there is an escape clause for parents who claim to not be able to find a doctor to sign the form.
Blog text (10) -
And no, there should not be an escape clause.
Blog text (10) -
She's found an escape clause.
-
We also have the so-called fair trade rules, such as the escape clause.
Academic text (1993) -
They get you under contract, then they close the escape clauses.
-
To add insult to injury, an escape clause is added at the end of the statement, essentially letting off the hook any party that does not want to pursue these goals.
Blog text (3) -
There's an escape clause.
-
The contract includes an escape clause that allows both parties to withdraw under certain circumstances.
-
Many business contracts have an escape clause to protect both sides from liabilities during a crisis.
Synonyms
1
5.0
A clause or simple rule that lets someone leave an agreement without a big loss
Antonyms
How Avoidable
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is transparently built from 'escape' (to avoid or get away from something) and 'clause' (a provision or condition in a contract); a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer it denotes a provision allowing one to 'escape' obligations. This is a regular, compositional naming pattern (noun+noun) found across languages and contexts, so it should be immediately comprehensible though its use is domain-specific (legal/contractual).
Etymology
Escape clause comes from the simple image of a small exit in a contract: the word clause is a part of the agreement and escape means 'to get out'. That's why an escape clause is a sentence in a contract that lets someone 'get out' or 'avoid' duties in certain situations.