Phrasal verb
bunk off
Definition
phrasal verb. to stay away from school or work when you should be there, usually because you want to do something more fun.
phrasal verb. to be absent from a place of obligation, such as school or a workplace, without permission; primarily British colloquial register.
Examples
“I decided to bunk off school and go to the cinema.”
“If they catch you trying to bunk off work early, you might lose your job.”
“The headteacher noted a significant increase in students attempting to bunk off during the final term of the academic year.”
Examples
simple
“I decided to bunk off school and go to the cinema.”
contextual
“If they catch you trying to bunk off work early, you might lose your job.”
complex
“The headteacher noted a significant increase in students attempting to bunk off during the final term of the academic year.”
Usage
highly informal and primarily used in British English; often followed by 'school' or 'work'.
Teaching tip
this is a great example of British slang for 'skipping' or 'playing truant'; contrast with the more formal 'absent' or the American 'cut class'.
Pitfall
He bunked off from school.
He bunked off school.
the verb is usually used transitively without the preposition 'from' when naming the place being avoided.
Phrasal verb
Particles
off
Separability
optional
Pattern
bunk + off (+ object)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/bunk-off