The phrase 逍遥法外 is formed through a vivid conceptual metaphor that paints a picture of a person existing in a state of carefree wandering (逍遥), literally “to stroll freely without a worry,” while being positioned outside the boundaries and authority of the law (法外). It is not a literal description but an evocative image that juxtaposes the idea of untroubled, almost poetic, liberty against the stark, structured domain of legal justice. The formation lies in this stark contrast, merging two concepts to create a single powerful notion: the unsettling image of someone who has committed a wrong not just escaping punishment, but doing so with an air of undisturbed, leisurely impunity.