Play hooky
verb
To skip a day of school without permission or a valid reason.
Johnny decided to play hooky to go to the amusement park with his friends.
Often appears as...
- decide to play hooky
- kids playing hooky
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb
To avoid or skip a day of work without a proper reason.
Some employees like to play hooky on Fridays to enjoy a longer weekend.
Often appears as...
- play hooky from work
- called in sick to play hooky
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb
To skip a day of school without permission or a valid reason.
Johnny decided to play hooky to go to the amusement park with his friends.
Often appears as...
- decide to play hooky
- kids playing hooky
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb
To avoid or skip a day of work without a proper reason.
Some employees like to play hooky on Fridays to enjoy a longer weekend.
Often appears as...
- play hooky from work
- called in sick to play hooky
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Informal Usage
Used casually among peers but might be inappropriate in formal settings or with authorities.
When the teacher asked, Jake mumbled an excuse for playing hooky yesterday.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Context
Common in countries where school attendance is compulsory and can imply truancy.
In many coming-of-age movies, the rebellious teen plays hooky, showcasing their defiance.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Connotation
Implies a disregard for rules; can suggest a naughty or rebellious attitude.
Sara wasn't sick; she just played hooky to finish her favorite book.
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