English Reference
Idiom idiom

hop the wag


To play truant (be absent from school without permission).

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He decided to hop the wag and go to the park instead.

CONTEXTUAL

The teacher noticed two empty desks and realized the students had decided to hop the wag for the afternoon.

COMPLEX

Despite the strict attendance policy, the rebellious students frequently chose to hop the wag, preferring the freedom of the streets to the confinement of the classroom.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bunny hop

    A dance from the big band era, a variation of the conga, in which dancers made small jumps with feet together.

  2. 02

    hop off

    To back off; to leave alone.

  3. 03

    hop up

    To make something, especially a machine, better (faster, bigger etc.); to soup up.

  4. 04

    hopping mad

    Extremely angry; furious to the point of outburst.

  5. 05

    play the wag

    To play truant (be absent from school without permission).

  6. 06

    tail wagging the dog

    A minor or secondary part of something which is controlling or dominating the whole or the main part.

  7. 07

    wag a finger

    To express one's annoyance with, or disapproval of, someone's actions.

  8. 08

    wag the dog

    To divert negative political attention by use of a military operation.

Last updated August 10, 2026