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
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
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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.
Rhymes for keng
See all rhymes for keng →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.
