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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:
PrivateMusic · 08/10/2025 17:34

Wag/wagging - West Mids, Black Country.

MyOlivePlayer · 08/10/2025 17:34

Skiiving in west Suffolk

PushItToTheMax · 08/10/2025 17:33

NE England - twanking!

Rae36 · 08/10/2025 17:31

We had "plunking" in our corner of sw Scotland. I never did it because my uncle was the Plunkyman who came round to your house to see why folk weren't in school

Ericaequites · 08/10/2025 17:31

I’m an American who has never lived more than twenty minutes from my birthplace in Southern New England. It’s bunking school here.

deeahgwitch · 08/10/2025 17:28

Mitching/ mitched/,went on the mitch Dublin, Ireland

Pinkywoo · 08/10/2025 17:25

Skiving in Norfolk.

dizzydizzydizzy · 08/10/2025 17:23

TamzinGrey · 08/10/2025 17:14

Mitching in Pontypridd, but that was many years ago. I only did it once and still feel guilty.

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

dizzydizzydizzy · 08/10/2025 17:22

JudgeJ · 08/10/2025 17:17

I've told this before but when there was a one day bus strike I told my form in Yorkshire they would have to leg it that day. They were incredulous, eventually we realised that in Yorkshire 'leg it' meant truant, on the better side of the Pennines it means walk!
In the NW I think it was wag but it's so long ago I'm not sure.

Interesting! To me "leg it" means run fast. (London area)

Welshwabbit · 08/10/2025 17:21

Skiving off - mid Wales

dizzydizzydizzy · 08/10/2025 17:20

Bunking off or skiving (London area)

However their meaning feels different to me. "Bunking off" feels far more rebellious and naughty - so playing truant for at least a day - whereas "skiving" feels more lighthearted and could be just avoiding some responsibilities or, say, feigning a headache to get out of PE.

JudgeJ · 08/10/2025 17:17

I've told this before but when there was a one day bus strike I told my form in Yorkshire they would have to leg it that day. They were incredulous, eventually we realised that in Yorkshire 'leg it' meant truant, on the better side of the Pennines it means walk!
In the NW I think it was wag but it's so long ago I'm not sure.

TamzinGrey · 08/10/2025 17:14

Mitching in Pontypridd, but that was many years ago. I only did it once and still feel guilty.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 08/10/2025 17:11

North West England- bunking off

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 08/10/2025 17:11

Plantatreetoday · 08/10/2025 17:09

Dogging means something very different down here in Kent 🤣🤣🥴

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It has a dual meaning in Glasgow!! We use dogging to mean the same as you i suspect also.

Plantatreetoday · 08/10/2025 17:11

Honeypizza · 08/10/2025 16:39

I grew up on the south coast of England - bunking / bunking off

Yep in Kent it’s bunking off

Foundress · 08/10/2025 17:09

We called it ‘dolling off’ 60’s /70’s Sunderland.

Plantatreetoday · 08/10/2025 17:09

the5percentclub · 08/10/2025 15:57

Dogging/dogging off/dogging it - Glasgow

Dogging means something very different down here in Kent 🤣🤣🥴

Missey85 · 08/10/2025 17:08

It's called wagging school in Australia 🙂

Whenwillthewashingend · 08/10/2025 17:06

Knocking off. W Yorkshire.

Dontcallmescarface · 08/10/2025 17:05

In my little corner of North Somerset it was "skiving".

Wecouldbesohappybaby · 08/10/2025 17:03

In south-east Wales, we called it mwtchyn. Nice to see lots of variations of this 😊

Thelondonone · 08/10/2025 16:55

Jumping the fence-but that might be school
specific.otherwise, bunking, skiving

PegDope · 08/10/2025 16:53

Mitching - The Pale, more specifically South Dublin.

Cyclebabble · 08/10/2025 16:51

Wagging- Black Country Midlands. To follow up with the wagger Women or Wagger man.

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