crock off
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To get out of doing something, like sports or work, by saying or pretending you are hurt or sick.
Literal meaning: A 'crock' is British/Australian slang for someone who is injured or in poor physical condition; to 'crock off' means to leave because you are a crock.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
informal
To withdraw from a sporting or physical activity due to injury or illness, sometimes implying the excuse is exaggerated.
"He crocked off training again with his so-called bad knee."
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1
idiomatic
informal
To avoid work or duty by citing physical incapacity.
"She crocked off the night shift claiming her back was playing up again."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Common in British and Australian sports and military contexts. Often implies the injury or illness is genuine but sometimes suggests exaggeration. Derived from 'crock', meaning a broken-down or injured person. Rarely used in formal writing.
Commonly used with
training match duty work game shift
Forms
Base
crock off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
crocks off
he/she/it
Past simple
crocked off
yesterday
Past participle
crocked off
have + pp
-ing form
crocking off
continuous
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Synonyms
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