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Meaning of throw a sickie | Babel Free

Verb CEFR C1

Definitions

To take a day off from work for ill health (either real or feigned).

Australia, New-Zealand, UK, slang

Examples

“Hogie said, “Listen⟳, I′m throwing a sickie. I don′t need⟳ to be there until opening day tomorrow. The staff don′t arrive⟳ till then anyway so as long as I'm in early I can′t see⟳ a problem.””
“2005, Callum G. Brown, The Unconverted and the Conversion, Jan N. Bremmer, Wout J. van Bekkum, Arie L. Molendijk (editors), Paradigms, Poetics, and Politics of Conversion: Gender Relations in the Salvation Narrative in Britain: 1800-1960, page 190, It is like⟳ throwing a ‘sickie’ in Britain today — you can sign-off work⟳ on your own⟳ say-so for sick benefit for up to five days.”
“Do not ‘throw⟳ a sickie’ just because things get⟳ tough. Experience⟳ shows that running away from your problems will not solve⟳ anything.”

CEFR level

C1
Advanced
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.
See all C1 English words →

See also

throw a spanner in the works throw a sprat to catch a mackerel throw a tantrum throw a wet blanket on throw a wobbly throw a wrench in

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