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- DictionaryPlay hooky
- ▪ stay away from school or work without permission or explanation
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Dec 3, 2023 · In short: "Play hooky" refers to skipping school or work without a valid reason, often to do something more enjoyable. What Does “Play Hooky” Mean? The phrase "play hooky" is a playful way to talk about avoiding responsibilities, especially school or work, without permission.
play hooky or less commonly play hookey. US, informal. : to be away from school without permission. Out on the playground, a boy from another homeroom cavorted around on a dirt bike, doing wheelies. He was playing hooky, but evidently couldn't stay away. Tracy Kidder.
When you play hooky, you take the day off from what you're supposed to be doing. A man who goes to the beach instead of to his job at a bank decides to play hooky. The classic example of someone who plays hooky is a kid who skips school, or is truant. You can also play hooky from any obligation, simply by not showing up.
Idioms and Phrases. Be absent from school or some other obligation without permission, as in It was such a beautiful day that Herb played hooky from work . In this term, the noun hooky may have come from the phrase hook it , meaning “escape.” [Mid-1800s] Discover More. Example Sentences.
The expression "to play hooky (or hookey)," meaning "to skip school," has been around since the 19th century. John Bartlett in his 1848 Dictionary of Americanisms notes that the term was "used among schoolboys, chiefly in the State of New York."
Sep 18, 2023 · Idiom. Play Hooky. Definition. Play Hooky is an idiom that means to deliberately miss work, school, or any other obligation in order to do something more enjoyable. Examples. I heard that Jack played hooky from school yesterday to go to the beach. The teacher knew Mary was playing hooky when she was not in class. Origin.
May 21, 2024 · to play hooky. phrase. If a child plays hooky, they stay away from school without permission . [mainly US, informal] See full dictionary entry for hooky. Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers.
