# bunk off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bunk-off
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to stay away from school or work when you should be there, usually because you want to do something more fun.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He bunked off from school." but "He bunked off school." — the verb is usually used transitively without the preposition 'from' when naming the place being avoided.

## Usage notes

- 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'.

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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.