playing hooky
Unauthorized school absence
Playing hooky is skipping school or work without permission, typically to do something more enjoyable.
The phrase suggests sneaking off rather than having a legitimate excuse: Let's play hooky and go to the beach.
Primarily American; British English prefers "playing truant" or "skiving off."
- truantUnauthorized school no-show
- absenteeismHabitual failure to attend
- bunk offAbsent yourself without permission
- skip schoolUnauthorized absence from class
- bunkingSleeping somewhere temporarily
skiver · mental health day · sick day · call in sick · day off · ditching · ditch day · shirking · escapade · AWOL · skipping · nonattendance · thrill-seeking · malingering · slacking · goof off · sneaking · skip town
- school attendanceattendance, absence, absences, truancy, tardy
- school mischiefspitballs, note passing, passing notes, cheating, copying
- truancytruancy, skipping class, skipping school, cutting class, cutting school
- minor offensesminor offense, white lie, petty offense, fib, jaywalking
- attendanceattendance, present, absent, here, attendance sheet
- gonegone, absent, away, departed, missing
playing hookyshowing up
Arriving at a place
attending · perfect attendance · going to work · clocking in · reporting for duty
playing hookyexcused absence
Permitted time away
calling in sick · medical leave · bereavement leave · jury duty
play, player, playful, playing, played, playground, plays, players, replay