play truant

play truant

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

play ˈtruant

(British English) (American English play ˈhookey/ˈhooky informal) (old-fashioned) stay away from school without permission: Is she off school because she’s ill, or is she playing truant?
See also: 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
Coun Edith Battye said: "No-one wants the embarrassment of having their name in the paper, and the neighbours talking about them, for letting their child play truant.
The figures also show that girls have a higher rate of overall absenteeism, but boys play truant more often.
A SHOCKING number of children who play truant or are expelled from school for persistent bad behaviour become involved in serious crime, latest Government figures reveal.
Each year at least one million children - 15 per cent of all pupils - play truant.
CHILDREN at primary school who play truant face a crackdown.
HOW I applaud the decision to fine parents whose children persistently play truant from school (`Truants parents hit by fines',ECHO,June 17).
THE national head teachers' union today warned pupils that they could face suspension if they play truant to take part in anti-Bush demonstrations.
He accused the Labour Government of being obsessed with higher education and that children who were bored with the academic emphasis of the classroom were more likely to play truant and subsequently fall foul of the law.
FINALLY parents are being brought to book for allowing their children to play truant from school.
PATRICIA Amos claims she is being `made a scapegoat'for all mother's whose children play truant,having been sent to prison for 28 days by magistrates in Oxfordshire.
PARENTS of children who play truant could face on-the-spot fines of up to pounds 100 under new plans.
I do not condone those young people - thankfully a tiny minority - who play truant to attend marches.'
One of the ideas is to allow head teachers to impose on-the-spot fines for parents whose children persistently play truant.
Birmingham and Sandwell are among eight areas targeted by the Government for new fast-track prosecution of parents who repeatedly allow their children to play truant.
Now the council has launched a project to try to convince the youngsters not to play truant by raising awareness of the effects it has.