hookey

A student decides to play hookey and go to the park instead.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Truancy: "hookey" (also spelled "hooky") refers to the act of staying away from school without permission, typically to engage in other activities. It is commonly used in the phrase "to play hookey."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The students decided to play hookey and went to the park instead of attending class. (They skipped school without permission.)
  • Playing hookey can lead to trouble with parents and teachers. (The act of truancy has negative consequences.)

Advanced Usage

• "to play hookey": the standard idiomatic expression meaning to be absent from school without a valid excuse.
  • He played hookey on Friday to go fishing with his uncle. (He skipped school to fish.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hooky (n): an alternative spelling of "hookey," used interchangeably.
  • She was caught playing hooky by the truant officer. (She was found skipping school.)

Synonyms

• Truancy: the act of staying away from school without permission.

  • Truancy is a common problem in some high schools. (The problem of unauthorized absence.)

• Skipping school: a more informal synonym for playing hookey.

  • They were skipping school to hang out at the mall. (They were absent without permission.)

Related Idioms

• Play hookey: the only common idiom associated with this word.
  • Don't play hookey tomorrow; we have an important test. (Do not be absent without permission.)

Note: "Hookey" is almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase "to play hookey" or "to play hooky." It has no other common meanings or phrasal verbs. The word is informal and primarily used in American English.