verb

keng

KEHNG

Keng (verb) means to fake illness or invent an excuse to dodge duty, work, or (originally) military service. Example: “He kenged his way out of the morning drill by claiming a back injury.”

verb

To fake illness or invent an excuse to dodge duty, work, or (originally) military service.

"He kenged his way out of the morning drill by claiming a back injury."

"Half the office seems to be kenging on Fridays."

How to use keng

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo malinger — pretend to be sick or hurt to get out of something you're supposed to do.

Easily confused with

malinger →

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He _____ his way out of the morning drill by claiming a back injury.

Etymology

Clipped from the Singlish/Singapore phrase "chao keng," itself from Teochew words meaning roughly "dirty" and "to dodge" — soldiers pretending to be sick to skip duty.

Rhymes for keng

eng peng feng leng heng Deng Zeng Meng Seng Teng sheng zheng

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Frequently asked questions

What does “keng” mean?

The word “keng” means to fake illness or invent an excuse to dodge duty, work, or (originally) military service. In plain terms, to malinger — pretend to be sick or hurt to get out of something you're supposed to do.

How do you pronounce “keng”?

“Keng” is pronounced KEHNG ([ˈkeŋ˦] in IPA).

How do you use “keng” in a sentence?

Here is “keng” used in a sentence: “He kenged his way out of the morning drill by claiming a back injury.”

What part of speech is “keng”?

“Keng” is a verb.