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Pieanne Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary
Skiving
Hello, teachers,
I'd like to know what "I'm skiving today" means... I wondered whether it has something to do with not working, or not going to school (for no good reason)?
Could you give me some synomyms, in slang or "relaxed" language?
I'd like to know what "I'm skiving today" means... I wondered whether it has something to do with not working, or not going to school (for no good reason)?
Could you give me some synomyms, in slang or "relaxed" language?
Top answer
Ah that was my little confession wasn't it! It genrally means not doing some work you should be doing even if you are there. For example, I should have been inputting names and addresses into a database this afternoon for a marketing mailshot I want to do for my business.
- Ah that was my little confession wasn't it!
- It genrally means not doing some work you should be doing even if you are there.
- For example, I should have been inputting names and addresses into a database this afternoon for a marketing mailshot I want to do for my business.
- However, I couldn't help myself - it was so boring I kept popping on here instead.
- So I was 'skiving'.
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13 Answers
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Ah that was my little confession wasn't it!
It genrally means not doing some work you should be doing even if you are there.
For example, I should have been inputting names and addresses into a database this afternoon for a marketing mailshot I want to do for my business. However, I couldn't help myself - it was so boring I kept popping on here instead. So I was 'skiving'.
It genrally means not doing some work you should be doing even if you are there.
For example, I should have been inputting names and addresses into a database this afternoon for a marketing mailshot I want to do for my business. However, I couldn't help myself - it was so boring I kept popping on here instead. So I was 'skiving'.
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Yes, it was in your post, clever you!
Is it about the same as "procrastinate"?
Has it something to do with French "esquiver"?
Thanks for all your examples, they make it very clear!
Is it about the same as "procrastinate"?
Has it something to do with French "esquiver"?
Thanks for all your examples, they make it very clear!
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It rhymes with diving.
I wouldn't say it is that close to procrastinating. when you procrastinate you are usually convincing yourself that you have a good reason to do so - you want to think about it, you need to be sure this is the right thing to do, and so on.
Skiving is just being lazy!
I wouldn't say it is that close to procrastinating. when you procrastinate you are usually convincing yourself that you have a good reason to do so - you want to think about it, you need to be sure this is the right thing to do, and so on.
Skiving is just being lazy!
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Then I must have been skiving some... and i thought I was procrastinating, shame on me!
How can we relate the expression with the 1st meaning of the verb?
Has it the same root as French "esquiver"?
How can we relate the expression with the 1st meaning of the verb?
Has it the same root as French "esquiver"?
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Sorry I have no idea about the root of the word, it is just a slangy expression, but one that has been around a long time!
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Hello Pieanne
Some websites relate 'skive' to 'esquiver' and suggest that British soldiers picked it up from their French allies in WW1.
I'm not sure myself – 'esquiver' (cf. Italian 'schivare') seems to have more of a sense of 'dodging', 'evading' (cf. Italian 'schivo', shy; German 'scheu', shy); whereas 'skive' has a strong sense of 'not doing something you should be doing'.
Some websites relate 'skive' to 'esquiver' and suggest that British soldiers picked it up from their French allies in WW1.
I'm not sure myself – 'esquiver' (cf. Italian 'schivare') seems to have more of a sense of 'dodging', 'evading' (cf. Italian 'schivo', shy; German 'scheu', shy); whereas 'skive' has a strong sense of 'not doing something you should be doing'.
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Thanks for all your explanations and examples...
Isn't there some expression like "playing hookey" that means you don't go to school?
Isn't there some expression like "playing hookey" that means you don't go to school?
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Hello Pieanne
Yes, 'playing hookey' = 'playing truant' = 'bunking off school'.
I'm not sure I've heard 'playing hookey' very often in the UK. Is it more common in AmE, I wonder?
Cf. the Cockney English expression 'sling yer 'ook' ('sling your hook'). This is a forcible way of asking someone to 'go away'. (I don't know whether it's used much these days, except in 'tv
Yes, 'playing hookey' = 'playing truant' = 'bunking off school'.
I'm not sure I've heard 'playing hookey' very often in the UK. Is it more common in AmE, I wonder?
Cf. the Cockney English expression 'sling yer 'ook' ('sling your hook'). This is a forcible way of asking someone to 'go away'. (I don't know whether it's used much these days, except in 'tv
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Yes indeed, Mr P., I heard "playing hookey" from someone who lives in New Hampshire...
And thanks for explanations & examples!
And thanks for explanations & examples!
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