The Dangers of Skiving: Understanding the Negative Impact of Shirking Work

Skiving is a British English slang term that means "shirking" or "avoiding work". It can also refer to taking short breaks or time off from one's duties, especially during work hours. The word is often used in a negative context, implying that the person being described is not pulling their weight or is not taking their responsibilities seriously.

For example, if an employee is consistently skiving off to take long lunches or spend time on social media instead of working, their supervisor might reprimand them for not doing their job properly.

It's worth noting that the term "skive" can also be used as a verb, meaning to avoid work or take short breaks. For example, "I'm going to skive off early today to attend a doctor's appointment."