# play the wag

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/play-the-wag
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- He decided to play the wag and missed his afternoon class.
- The teacher noticed two students were missing and suspected they had gone to play the wag.
- Rather than face the difficult examination, the anxious student chose to play the wag, wandering the city streets until the final bell rang.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.