Chuck a sickie means: Call in sick to work without actually being sick. The act associated with the noun "sickie.". There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
chuck a sickie
Call in sick to work without actually being sick.
tʃʌk ə ˈsɪk.iDocumented since 1970s1970sGen Xhistorical210 viewsLast reviewed Sep 6, 2026＋ Add a definition
Etymology timeline
Born ~1970 · no dated citations yetBoomer / counterculture eraSee decade cohort →
Definitions
Australia
#1·Apr 26, 2026AUS
Call in sick to work without actually being sick. The act associated with the noun "sickie."
"He chucked a sickie to go to the cricket."
Origin: Australian workplace slang.
For parents
Chuck a sickie means: Call in sick to work without actually being sick. The act associated with the noun "sickie.". There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
chuck a sickie means: Call in sick to work without actually being sick. The act associated with the noun "sickie.". Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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Global
#2·May 2, 2026Global
To take a day off from work feigning ill health.
For parents
Chuck a sickie means: To take a day off from work feigning ill health.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
chuck a sickie means: To take a day off from work feigning ill health.. Register: neutral, standard English. Common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; always check the context before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
Source: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Tags
Other words near "chuck a sickie" (C)
chubbochubbschubbychubschub upchuck a dummychuck a ueychuck a wobblychuckieschuckiestonechuck inchucking-out time
Browse all slang words starting with C.
Related terms
People also read
Semantically related
- sickie87%
A day off taken under false pretenses of illness. "Chuck a sickie" = call in sick when not actually sick.
- throw a sickie82%
(slang, UK, Australia, New Zealand) To take a day off from work for ill health (either real or feigned).
- sickie81%
A day, or time, off work due to (supposed) illness.
- pull a sickie80%
(slang, UK, Australia, New Zealand) To skip work or school or avoid an obligation by pretending to be sick.