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Original poster

...to make a UK map of slang for bunking off lessons...

136 replies

WalkDontWalk · 08/10/2025 15:24

This is a spin-off from another thread....

Skipping lessons or entire days of school was 'bunking off' where I grew up - which was Sarf London.

There's an Arctic Monkeys song in which Alex mentions 'she wagged English and Science', which I checked with a friend from Sheffield, and it means what I thought it meant.

I think you could make a map of the UK by plotting regional slang for skipping lessons.

OP posts:
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EBearhug · 08/10/2025 21:34

Skiving in '80s Dorset.

TheDenimPoet · 08/10/2025 21:23

North West.. Waggin' it

BlackeyedSusan · 08/10/2025 21:14

dizzydizzydizzy · 08/10/2025 17:23

You could always pay your dues with a detention! 🤣 it's never too late!

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Sitting down doing nothing for half an hour...not so much of a punishment.

LasVegass · 08/10/2025 21:08

DD says they call it skip (Surrey).

BlackeyedSusan · 08/10/2025 21:08

Bunking off/skiving

East mids.

Moll2020 · 08/10/2025 21:06

Mitching - Cardiff

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 08/10/2025 20:56

Mitching in Wiltshire, but occasionally skiving was used too

LifeOfBriony · 08/10/2025 20:49

Bunking off or skiving - west London / Middlesex

TroysMammy · 08/10/2025 20:47

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 08/10/2025 15:32

Mitching - Swansea

Although that may have fallen out of favour, just checked with DD and she had no idea what it meant. Apparently its just bunking off now.

And if the Mitcher Man caught you ...I wouldn't know what would happen because I never did. My DM worked in the school canteen and I was afraid a teacher would say "is eldest daughter off school ill, she wasn't in class today?" My arse would have been grass 😂

BreadandButterscotch · 08/10/2025 20:36

Skivving - Leicestershire

BashfulClam · 08/10/2025 20:35

Dogging it -West coast of Scotland. Husband is from shit outside Glasgow also says Dogging it but we have different names for carrying someone on your back. I call it a ‘cokey back’ he calls it a ‘coal carry’.

CharlotteCChapel · 08/10/2025 20:14

Mitching off or on the mitch Cardiff area

HazelBite · 08/10/2025 20:12

On the hop (North London) Hop pronounce 'op !

scaredfriend · 08/10/2025 20:07

Skiving. SW England.

isthismylifenow · 08/10/2025 19:32

South Africa

Charfing.

And if you had a pretend-ill day off, then your diagnosis would be Charfalitis.

I had a case of Charfalitis from work today actually. (I'm self employed so I can)

Redtoestoday · 08/10/2025 19:27

Nicking off- Lancashire

OverTheWater28 · 08/10/2025 19:23

gingercat02 · 08/10/2025 17:42

Mitching - Belfast in the 70/80s

Same! In Antrim

OverTheWater28 · 08/10/2025 19:22

Mitching - NI

therewasafishinthepercolator · 08/10/2025 19:21

PennyShine · 08/10/2025 15:33

We called it mitching in Co Antrim too.

Ha. I'm Co Antrim and we called it mitching or beaking/ beaking off in the 90s.

I'll have to ask the kids what they call it now.

bloominoreilly · 08/10/2025 19:14

Cappin' off in S Derbys (gen X)

JuvenileBigfoot · 08/10/2025 19:13

Bunking. Very Sarf London.
Bunking also means not paying on public transport- as in "I bunked the tram to Mitcham" Not really a thing now I guess since kids don't pay!

Pinkywoo · 08/10/2025 19:11

Twoshoesnewshoes · 08/10/2025 18:45

Bunking off in Norfolk - mid 1990’s

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Also mid 90s in Norwich, but we definitely called it skiving!

Halfquarterbag · 08/10/2025 19:05

North of Scotland 60 years ago. Skipping, skiving.

Trowing (rhyme with ploughing) was a word older people might use.

amber763 · 08/10/2025 19:00

SheGotOffThePlane · 08/10/2025 15:30

Dogging it - just outside Glasgow

Same!

Barefootinthecarpark · 08/10/2025 18:57

Dogging it/bunking off East Northants

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