blow off the class? = skip the class?

Question

The only expression I know in English for a student who don't attend the class on purpose is "skip the class."(1. He skipped the 7th period/ 2. He skipped the class) But There are some expressions in my language including slang expression.

I found this expression
blow off something : (AmE,informal)
to decide not to do something you should do or were planning to do

Q) Is the "blow off the class" can be another way of saying "skip the class" or can it be slang or is it just nonsense?
Q2) I think "skip the class" has two meanings depending on context or without a context. (not attending the class on purpose or with some reasonable reason) Does it usually imply a bad connotation?

TheEnglishTeacher · Accepted Answer

"Cut class" and "ditch class" also are used for not attending on purpose for no good reason.

Ivanhr · Answer

Also
play truant (BrE)
play hooky (AmE - though this is not used a lot these days)

Mister Micawber · Answer

moon7296Q) Is the "blow off the class" can be another way of saying "skip the class" or can it be slang or is it just nonsense?

It does not work here. The only 'blow off' I know is to aggressively avoid someone or drive him away.

moon7296Q2) I think "skip the class" has two meanings depending on context or without a context. (not attending the class on purpose or with some reasonable reason) Does it usually imply a bad connotation?

I don't see those two meanings, but just the one: not attend the class. If you think that missing class is bad, then it has a bad connotation.

TheEnglishTeacher · Answer

Okay, I have consulted the ultimate authorities: my teenage children!

These expressions are currently used by students (in order of negative meaning, least to most):
skip class = to not attend class
"Skip class" is not as negative in meaning as "cut class" and "ditch class." Most of the time it is used to mean that you had to be elsewhere because of other duties, instead of meaning "truant." Examples: "I have to skip class this afternoon for a doctor appointment." (legitimate excuse outside of school) "I skipped math class because of chorus practice." (other duties related to school)
cut class = used to mean truant, but is not as strong as "ditch class"
Examples: "I cut class yesterday because it was such a nice day for surfing." (implied: Who can blame me?) Typically, you would not use "cut class" to mean you had a legitimate excuse like a doctor appointment.
ditch class = truant for no good reason, most strong & negative in meaning
Examples: "I ditched class yesterday because I felt like it." and "John ditches math class every day because he is failing."

These expressions are not used by the current generation:
play hooky = truant (not used by current generation -- 1950's style)
Some older people still used this to refer to skipping work instead of school. "It was such a nice day, I decided to play hooky from work." To "call in sick" also is used to mean skipping work when you are not actually sick. "It was such a nice day, I called in sick."
blow off class = not used because nowadays "blow" implies a sexual act in general conversation. Certain people who are not as "polite" in their language may use this to mean truant, but it has a dirtier connotation. Also, "blow off" is more likely to be used with a person and not an inanimate concept, as in "I was supposed to see her after class, but I blew off my teacher because I can't stand her." It is possible to misunderstand this because of the slang meaning of "blow off."

Mister Micawber · Answer

Very interesting: good research.  I think your kids might be slightly prescriptivist, though, with that neatly linear order of the first 3 verbs.

TheEnglishTeacher · Answer

Well, that was my editing. <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/5.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/5.gif' alt='Emotion: wink'/>

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I assume your children go to school in the USA, right?

Clive

TheEnglishTeacher · Answer

Yes, we are all native American English speakers.

Anonymous · Answer

Ivanhrplay truant (BrE)

That's a bit formal and how adults such as teachers and the media, say it. British children at school normally talk about bunking off http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/bunk-off-sth?q=bunk+off+%28sth%29

Khoff · Answer

I've used "blow off the class" in talking to my college-student daughter, saying something like "Be sure the professor knows you missed class because you were sick.  Don't let them think you just blew it off (out of disrespect, for no good reason)."

blow off the class? = skip the class?

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