"throw a sickie" means to take a day off from work for ill health (either real or feigned). It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
throw a sickie
(slang, UK, Australia, New Zealand) To take a day off from work for ill health (either real or feigned).
ˈθɹoʊ ə ˈsɪkiDocumented since 1970s1970sGen Xhistorical131 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Etymology timeline
Born ~1970 · no dated citations yetBoomer / counterculture eraSee decade cohort →
Definitions
Australia
#1·Apr 27, 2026AUS
(slang, UK, Australia, New Zealand) To take a day off from work for ill health (either real or feigned).
See it in action
“"People want to be seen to be strong, so sometimes the easiest thing to do is to throw a sickie when it gets too much." Of course, many take sick days because of physical as opposed to mental ailments.”
Hogie said, “Listen, I′m throwing a sickie. I don′t need to be there until opening day tomorrow. The staff don′t arrive till then anyway so as long as I'm in early I can′t see a problem.”
For parents
"throw a sickie" means to take a day off from work for ill health (either real or feigned). It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
For ESL learners
"throw a sickie" is informal English meaning to take a day off from work for ill health (either real or feigned). It is mainly heard in British English (and Irish English). A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "to take a day off from work for ill health (either real or feigned)" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "throw a sickie" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing.
Heard in the wild
“"People want to be seen to be strong, so sometimes the easiest thing to do is to throw a sickie when it gets too much." Of course, many take sick days because of physical as opposed to mental ailments.”
Was this helpful?
Comments
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.
Used in
Australia
Have a better definition?
Add your own interpretation of "throw a sickie".
🇦🇺About Australian & NZ slang slang
Aussie and Kiwi vocabulary — bogan, daggy, brekkie, sheila, bach, jandals — the whole Antipodean lexicon, including outback dialect, surf and beach culture, and Sydney/Melbourne street slang.
See all Australian & NZ slang slang on Slangora.
Tags
Other words near "throw a sickie" (T)
thrissomethrongthroughgangthroughgoingthroughotherthrow a mickeythrow a wobblythrowdownthrow-inthrowingthrowing arcthrowing coded
Browse all slang words starting with T.
Related terms
People also read
Semantically related
- 87%
(slang, UK, Australia, New Zealand) To skip work or school or avoid an obligation by pretending to be sick.
- 87%
A day, or time, off work due to (supposed) illness.
- 87%
To take a day off from work feigning ill health.
- 85%
A day off taken under false pretenses of illness. "Chuck a sickie" = call in sick when not actually sick.
- 82%
Call in sick to work without actually being sick. The act associated with the noun "sickie."