WordGarden.ioskive
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /skˈaɪv/
US
- /skˈaɪv/
Meanings
Verb
to avoid work, school, or another duty by sneaking off
to shave, thin, or bevel a material such as leather
Beyond the definition
To skive means to deliberately avoid work, school, or some other duty, often by pretending to be busy or by quietly disappearing for a while. It feels more playful and sneaky than simply being lazy, because it suggests that someone is trying to get out of what they should be doing. You will hear it most often in British English, especially in phrases like "skive off school" or "skive off work." If your friend says they are "working" but they are really playing video games during office hours, they are skiving.
Imagine you're supposed to be weeding the garden, but instead, you spend an hour meticulously arranging pebbles to look like a zen garden. That, my friend, is skiving. The word "skive" describes deliberately avoiding work or duty, often in a sneaky or playful way. It's not just about being idle; it implies actively finding creative ways around your responsibilities.
There is also an older trade use of "skive" in leatherwork, where it means to shave or pare leather to make it thinner. That older meaning is different from the everyday slang sense, and the exact path from one use to the other is not always explained clearly, so it is safest to treat the modern slang meaning as its own common expression.
While traditionally British slang, "skive" is becoming common in other English-speaking countries. You will most frequently hear it used as a phrasal verb: someone might "skive off school" to go to the cinema, or a colleague might be "skiving off work" by spending the afternoon browsing social media. It usually carries a slightly humorous or mischievous tone, suggesting a lighthearted avoidance of chores rather than serious professional misconduct. So, if you find yourself creatively dodging your to-do list today, you might just be skiving! Just don't get caught.
Examples
- 1
School absence
He got caught skiving off school again last Friday.
- 2
Workplace
We can't just skive off for the afternoon and leave the rest of the team to do the work.
- Phraseskive off
stay away from work or school when you should be there
- 3
Excuse
She said she had a dentist appointment, but I think she was really skiving to avoid the meeting.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- skiveverb