play hookey

play hooky

To absent oneself or leave early from school or work when one would normally be required to be there. Primarily heard in US. I was so restless and bored at work that I decided to play hooky after lunch. Hey, Jim and I are playing hooky from school on Friday, do you want to come with us? That's the last time you play hooky, mister! From now on, I'm dropping you off at school every morning!
See also: play
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

play hookey

stay away from school without permission or explanation; play truant. North American informal
See also: hookey, play
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • oneself
  • wash (one's) hands of (someone or something)
  • wash hands of
  • wash one's hands of
  • wash your hands of
  • wash your hands of somebody/something
  • wash your hands of something/someone
  • for (one's) (own) sake
  • for sake
  • keep sight of somebody/something
References in periodicals archive
WALES need to play Hookey in the Six Nations - even if it means moving the captain from his position in the control room.
Rugby League: BY HOOK OR BY CROOK; SIX NATIONS COUNTDOWN: WALES URGED TO PICK YOUNG OSPREYS ACE Griffiths: Get James in side.. even if you have to drop Stephen
You know there's work to be done so don't play hookey. TRY TO -face your fears and win.
FRANK PILKINGTON'S HOROSCOPES
"Whenever the House is sitting I'm in London ( I do not play hookey."
pounds 60,000 for 152 days
But eagle-eyed bosses keen to maintain productivity and profit margins are fighting back on the employees who play hookey on company time.
Keeping an eye on mobile workers
But that's what you've got to do if you want to "play hookey" on the slopes.
Schuss by bus
Idle and unconcerned parents will face fines of up to pounds 5,000 if their equally idle and uncommitted offspring play hookey.
Is this attending the problem of truancy?; Can fines ever get parents to send their children to school, asks Chief Feature Writer Jason Beattie
The internet bank Egg has just been criticised by the advertising watchdog for an advert which urged people to spend on their credit cards and play hookey from work.
Make every school good
The brilliant Way Out West, in which the pair enter Western territory to hand over the deed to a goldmine, is currently showing at cinemas around the country as is Sons Of The Desert in which the pair play hookey to attend a masonic convention.
PARTNERS IN THE SUBLIME; They teamed up 70 years ago, but Laurel and Hardy's comedies remain among the best