A2Colors

Blau machen

To skip work or school, to take a day off without permission

In German

Blau machen

blau ma-khen

Literal Translation

To make blue

Meaning

To skip work or school, to take a day off without permission.

Equivalent:"To play hooky"

Origin:Possibly from the old custom of dyers taking Monday off after a weekend of heavy drinking to let the blue dye settle, or from 'Blaue Stunde' (blue hour), a time for leisure.

Example Sentences

1
Er hat heute blau gemacht und ist stattdessen ins Schwimmbad gegangen.
He skipped work today and went to the swimming pool instead.
2
Wenn du zu oft blau machst, bekommst du Ärger mit deinem Chef.
If you skip work too often, you'll get in trouble with your boss.

FAQ

How do you say "To skip work or school, to take a day off without permission" in German?

"To skip work or school, to take a day off without permission" in German is "Blau machen" (blau ma-khen). Example: Er hat heute blau gemacht und ist stattdessen ins Schwimmbad gegangen..

To be in debt, to be operating at a loss, to have negative financial figures

In den roten Zahlen sein

in den ro-ten tsah-len zain

To have a clean record and nothing to hide; to be innocent of any wrongdoing

Eine weiße Weste haben

ai-ne vai-se ves-te ha-ben

To be overly pessimistic, to exaggerate difficulties, to portray something in an excessively negative light

Etwas schwarzmalen

et-vas shvarts-ma-len

To dislike someone and be unfriendly towards them

Jemandem nicht grün sein

ye-man-dem nikht gryun zain