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hooky

hooky

1 8.6
Staying away from school or work without permission
  • noun
  • /ˈhʊki/
  • Informal
translation icon : fugarse
  • Playing hooky didn't exactly turn out as the Texas woman had planned.
  • playing hooky

You know what happened when I was in junior high school, I went to school one day, I got caught playing hooky.

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Examples

  • "To feel the need to develop an elaborate scheme simply to play hooky is mind-blowing!

    Blog text (6)
  • Many students think that playing hooky is a fun way to skip school for a day.

  • Playing hooky is good for the soul.

    Blog text (18)
  • Check this out, you guys, Mom's playing hooky from work this afternoon.

  • This is when Lucille and Ruth are playing hooky from school.

  • Essentially, it's marathon day, and it just feels like you're playing hooky from life.

  • He got in trouble for playing hooky when he should have been at work.

  • Playing hooky from school allowed her to enjoy a day at the amusement park.

Synonyms

truancy
vshooky
12 6.6

A student who stays away from school without permission

is broader, applying to school or work absence without permission
absenteeism
vshooky
5 6.7

Repeatedly staying away from work or school without a good reason

focuses on absence without permission rather than on repeated instances

Antonyms

229 2.8

Taking part in an activity or event with other people

101 2.0

Being present at a meeting, class, or event

Compounds

hooky player
  • Informal
8.9

A student who stays away from school without permission

How Serious

truancy
12 6.6
hooky
  • Informal
1 8.6
cut
  • Informal
56 6.4
absence
216 2.1

Surface Forms

hooky singular
hookies plural

Etymology

Hooky probably comes from an old phrase hook it, which meant 'to run away'. So, to play hooky is to leave school or work without permission.