What it means
A dodgy day off work or school where you claim you’re sick even though you’re actually fine. Usually turns up as pulling a sickie or chucking a sickie. Perfect after a big one when Monday feels illegal and you’re putting on your crookest phone voice. Just don’t get caught out at the servo or Bunnings in your sunnies.
Usage examples
"Dave’s pulling a sickie again, reckon. Rang the boss saying he’s crook, then got pinged at Bunnings smashing a snag and shopping for a new esky."
"He pulled a sickie on Monday and got spotted at the beach by his boss."
"I'm tempted to chuck a sickie tomorrow, I'm absolutely knackered."
"I was gonna chuck a sickie, but then Mum spotted me ironing a fishing shirt at 7am and said not a chance, champ."
"She pulled a sickie after the Sunday session, then spent the whole arvo posting beach pics with her work mates on Instagram."
Where it comes from
This is Aussie English doing its usual thing with the diminutive ending -ie. It comes straight from sick, then gets turned into sickie for a bogus sick day. The phrase pull a sickie has been around in Australia for ages and later spread beyond it, but its home turf is still very much Aussie.
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