すっぽかす

• Reading: すっぽかす
• Romaji: suppokasu
• Pronunciation: /sɯp.po.ka.sɯ/

Meaning

To stand someone up; to skip; to miss on purpose. To fail to keep an appointment or obligation without warning.

A Group 1 (godan) verb written entirely in hiragana. すっぽかす is distinctly colloquial and implies deliberate neglect — failing to show up for a date (デートをすっぽかす), skipping class (授業をすっぽかす), or ignoring a commitment. It differs from simply forgetting (忘れる) in that すっぽかす carries a connotation of carelessness or intentional avoidance. It is common in informal speech and youth language.

Examples

1. 約束をすっぽかされた彼女は、連絡もせず帰ってしまった。 Having been stood up without a word, she simply left without contacting him.
2. 会議をすっぽかして映画を観に行ったことが上司にばれてしまった。 It came out that he had skipped the meeting to go to the cinema, and his boss found out.
3. アルバイトをすっぽかすのは社会人としてのマナー違反だ。 Standing up a part-time job without notice is a breach of basic social manners.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, school, workplace, social obligations

Tone: colloquial, negative

Origin & History

The etymology is uncertain; it may derive from すっぽり (completely, snugly) combined with a verb root meaning to abandon or miss, suggesting the idea of being completely absent. The word has been in colloquial use since at least the Showa period.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Young to middle-aged

Social background: Universal