Traditional
Still common
Definition
Play truant from school.
Example Sentence
"We wagged school to go to the beach."
Where "Wag" Comes From
An older English dialect term for playing truant, brought to Australia by early settlers and retained in everyday speech long after it faded elsewhere.
The word has stayed remarkably stable in meaning for generations, still instantly understood by Australian schoolkids today.
How Aussies Actually Use It
A classic piece of Australian school slang — "we wagged school to go to the beach" is the kind of confession told with a knowing grin.
Often shared as fond nostalgia rather than genuine confession of wrongdoing, especially once enough time has passed since school days.
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