play truant
Ditch class deliberately
To play truant is to skip school without permission—to be absent when you're supposed to be in class.
The phrase is more common in British English; Americans typically say "play hooky" or just "skip school." He played truant to spend the day at the arcade.
A student who does this habitually is a truant.
Unauthorized school absence
- skiveEvade responsibilities deliberately
- bunkNonsense or stacked bed
- wagMove briskly back-and-forth
- jigSpirited folk dance
sag · ditch · cut · dog · plunk · bunk off · skive off · goof off
Failure to appear
- absenteeismHabitual failure to attend
- unexcusedLacking official approval
- AWOLAbsent without permission
- missingNot present, whereabouts unknown
cutting · ditching · bunking · skiving · wagging · jigging · sagging · skipping school
Avoiding obligatory tasks
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- evadingSkillfully keeping away from
- avoidingDeliberately staying clear
- eludingEscaping or avoiding skillfully
escaping · slipping away · ducking out · bunking off · skiving off · making oneself scarce · absconding · disappearing
Defiance of established power
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- insubordinationDefying workplace authority
- nonconformityRejection of prevailing norms
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
defiance · dissent · rule-breaking · acting out · youthful rebellion · school refusal
hooky
Unauthorized school absence
jig · sag · ditch · cut · dog · plunk · bunk off · skive off · goof off · blow off
nonattendance
Failure to appear
- absenteeismHabitual failure to attend
- unexcusedLacking official approval
- AWOLAbsent without permission
missing · cutting · ditching · bunking · skiving · wagging · jigging · sagging · skipping school · cutting class
shirking
Avoiding obligatory tasks
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- evadingSkillfully keeping away from
- avoidingDeliberately staying clear
eluding · escaping · slipping away · ducking out · bunking off · skiving off · making oneself scarce · absconding · disappearing · vanishing
rebellion
Defiance of established power
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- insubordinationDefying workplace authority
- nonconformityRejection of prevailing norms
resistance · defiance · dissent · rule-breaking · acting out · youthful rebellion · school refusal
play truantdo one's duty
Fulfill one's obligations
toe the line · follow the rules · knuckle down · apply oneself · comply
play, player, playful, playing, played, playmate, plays, playfully, plaything