verb
keng
KEHNG
verb
1
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 notesIn 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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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.