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AIBU?

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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:
DylanBrownCow · 08/10/2025 16:46

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.

It’s mitching in Devon too.

RubynRita · 08/10/2025 16:45

@BlueberryLatte, Edited to say, yes, beaking off was also used.

SaffyWall · 08/10/2025 16:44

Twagging - North Yorkshire.

(Skiving is also acceptable!)

TotallyAddictedToCoffee · 08/10/2025 16:44

Wagging it - North West

DontGoJasonWaterfalls · 08/10/2025 16:44

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.

Definitely still mitching in at least one Swansea school!

lnks · 08/10/2025 16:43

Lots of people from the northwest have said skiving but I’m also from the northwest and we called it wagging. It wouldn’t be very easy to create and accurate map.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 08/10/2025 16:42

Twagging.S Yorkshire

BlueberryLatte · 08/10/2025 16:42

RubynRita · 08/10/2025 16:41

Mitching, bunking off or on the beak, Northern Ireland.

Did you also say "beaking off" or was that just my mum?

Tiredofwhataboutery · 08/10/2025 16:42

PrincessAnne5Eva · 08/10/2025 15:32

Skiving in my area meant sitting chatting in class doing no work, not physically being absent from the lesson.

Skiving was multi functional for us (Edinburgh) so you could be skiving (not doing the work) or you could skive off (not turn up).

RubynRita · 08/10/2025 16:41

Mitching, bunking off or on the beak, Northern Ireland.

Honeypizza · 08/10/2025 16:39

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

Photoalbum · 08/10/2025 16:38

Skiving - SE Wales, 90s. And skivalitis if someone was supposed to be off sick but was actually skiving!

13goingon31 · 08/10/2025 16:37

Bunking or skiving - essex

Sudename · 08/10/2025 16:32

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.

Mitching in Ireland too, as well as "on the go"

Goatblu · 08/10/2025 16:30

Skiving where I grew up (West Midlands).

tinytemper66 · 08/10/2025 16:24

South west Wales- in my day -59 yrs old we called it mitching. Now kids call it bunking off (where I teach in the valleys)

Nightingaille · 08/10/2025 16:21

Skiving, North Yorkshire

RuthW · 08/10/2025 16:20

Northampton - wagging it

AudiobookListener · 08/10/2025 16:13

Wagging it. Birmingham.

channelislander · 08/10/2025 16:11

We called it either "bunking" or "bunking off" most of the time- Guernsey, Channel Islands

tiresomee · 08/10/2025 16:11

Skiving - West Mids/South Staffs

Pinkmagic1 · 08/10/2025 16:11

Skiving - East Midlands

BlueberryLatte · 08/10/2025 16:10

Skiving off - Ireland

My mum used to say "beaking off" but I think she had just got the wrong expression? Interested to know if anyone else says this!

SprayWhiteDung · 08/10/2025 16:09

I remember reading once - and I've no idea where or why I remember it - somebody using the phrase 'bonking the nut' to mean bunking off school.

EchoedSilence · 08/10/2025 16:09

Skiving - Midlands

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