How do you say "skip class" or "he was skipping class"

Question

I saw this in a book once enough to remember it wasn't "saltar clase," but I can't find the idoimatic expression.

In Puerto Rico we say "cortar la clase". - burgosmath, Feb 9, 2015

Answer 1

In Spain it's more common "saltarse una clase" (you didn't go probably because you didn't want to) or "faltar a clase" (you probably had a reason why you couldn't go).

In a more informal context you could say "hacer pellas" (e.g.: Juan ha hecho pellas hoy) or "hacer novillos" (same use, but it sounds a bit old).

Another informal expression in Spain: "fumarse una clase", literally to "smoke a class". - bill1111, Oct 18, 2010

Answer 2

In Mexico we say: "se fué de pinta" (colloquially). I don't recall anybody using "saltar la clase" but I would undesrtand this to mean "to skip class" as well.

Answer 3

I see, in the dictionary, the following for "play hooky"...

hacer novillos, irse de pinta, pintar venados

But, I can't verify what these really mean to people. However, when in school, I remember "skipping class" being used when skipping one or more classes, but not necessarily them all...whereas play hooky usually meant one had skipped the whole day.

"He was skipping class" = "se pintio la clase" - Myneg, Oct 18, 2010

"hacer novillos" is usually said when you don't even go to school, whereas "saltarse una clase" is used when you skip just one or two ("saltarse un par de clases"). - bill1111, Oct 18, 2010