play hooky

Idioms  

1. 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]

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Example Sentences

And because it is common for a few employees to walk in together, with only one swiping a badge to open the door, HR departments were reluctant to accuse anyone of playing hooky.

From The Wall Street Journal

Supposedly playing hooky from filming a movie, he visits the walrus diorama at the Natural History Museum.

From Los Angeles Times

He works hard to please but likes his breaks and sometimes plays hooky.

From Seattle Times

Sunday’s show wasn’t the first time the Boss personally signed off on his fans playing hooky.

From Los Angeles Times

They worked or played hooky, they hid or revealed their feelings, they participated or declined to participate in the war to come.

From New York Times

Related Words

• avoid
• depart
• disappear
• dodge
• elude
• emerge
• evade
• flee
• fly
• leave
• run
• slip
• slip away
• vanish