pull a sickie

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To skip work or school or avoid an obligation by pretending to be sick.

Register: slang

Examples

But not all excuses for pulling a sickie are equal, it seems.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “pull a sickie” mean?

To skip work or school or avoid an obligation by pretending to be sick.

Is “pull a sickie” formal or informal?

pull a sickie is generally slang.