1. To have or face less difficulty than would normally be the case. (Shortening of "get off lightly.") Next to some graduate students' horror stories of the hours upon hours of work they have to do for their programs, I feel like I got off quite light with mine! Last summer, we seemed to have endless rain, but we got off light this year.

2. To face less severe punishment than might be expected, or to escape punishment entirely. (Shortening of "get off lightly.") I hope you realize you got off light. If your uncle—the senator—hadn't intervened, you'd be in jail right now. In the end, we only had to pay a small fine for the damage, so I'd say we got off pretty light!