1 B1 idiomatic slang
To play truant from school; to absent oneself from lessons without permission.
"Half the class sagged off on Friday afternoon to go to the shopping centre."
inseparable
sag off
B1 slang inseparable intransitive
British regional slang (especially northern England) for playing truant from school or skipping work.
In plain English
To sneak away from school or work when you should be there.
What does "sag off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic slang
To avoid or skip work without a legitimate reason.
"He sagged off work early because the match was on at three."
inseparable
Usage tip
Chiefly used in northern England, particularly the Midlands and North West. Equivalent to 'skive off' or 'bunk off'. Rarely heard outside these regions.
Words that pair with "sag off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
school lesson work class afternoon
How to conjugate "sag off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sag off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sags off
he/she/it
Past simple
saged off
yesterday
Past participle
saged off
have + pp
-ing form
saging off
continuous
Hear "sag off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "sag off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.