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.—

Why do they say play hooky?

play hooky Add to list Share. ... A bride might play hooky from her wedding, or a pilot could play hooky from work, leaving her plane sitting on the runway. The phrase comes from nineteenth century New York City slang, and it's thought to have its roots in the Dutch word hoekje, or "hide-and-seek."

How do u play hooky?

Initially, the term playing hooky referred to children cutting school without permission from their parents or the school to take the day off. Some people apply it to work as well: people take time off without giving advance notice or having explicit permission to do so.