Have you ever pretended to be sick to get out of school?

Why people ask this

This question works because the yes-or-no split always surprises the room — someone answers in a way nobody expected, and the conversation starts from there. This question keeps coming up because the answer almost always cracks the room open — childhood memories sit in a part of the brain that people forget is loaded with material until somebody asks. Questions like this one get played across every kind of group on have.you — couples on a first date, coworkers at team events, friends on long drives. Each setting produces a different answer, which is part of why Have You Ever has stayed in circulation long after most party games get retired.

What do players say?

83%

of players said Yes
23 responses

Based on 23 answers so far, 83% of players say yes — making this one of the most common experiences players own up to.

Discussion starters

→ Who in the group is most likely to have pretended to be sick to get out of school?
→ What's the full story — and who in the group is most surprised by your answer?
→ What is one toy you would buy yourself today if you could find it?
→ Which teacher comes to mind first — and why?
→ What food did you love then that you cannot stand now?

Thinking back to childhood, many of us have tried to fake being sick to dodge a day at school. This question uncovers those sneaky little moments and nostalgic memories. For more reminiscing, explore our Childhood & Nostalgia questions.

What This Question Really Asks

This question delves into childhood antics and the occasionally creative ways we avoided responsibilities. It encourages honest stories about those clever escapes. You might discover some funny or surprising truths about yourself and your friends. For example, do you remember when a simple headache was enough to stay home? Or maybe when you faked a cough to convince your parents. Want to dig deeper? Check out our classic questions for more everyday scenarios.

How often did you pretend to be sick?
What symptoms did you fake or exaggerate?
Did your plan ever work perfectly?
What was your biggest getaway story?
Have you ever caught someone lying about being sick?

How to Use This Question

Setting	Tone	Best for	Tip
Friends game night	Playful and light-hearted	Getting everyone to share embarrassing stories	Use humor to make all feel comfortable, and consider deciding who shares first.
First date	Casual and charming	Breaking the ice with fun stories from childhood	Keep it light and share a funny fake sick story to ease nerves.
Team meeting	Professional yet friendly	Building rapport among colleagues	Choose anecdotes that are appropriate, or suggest you share yours in your own questions.
Family dinner	Warm and nostalgic	Reminiscing with parents or grandparents	Encourage everyone to recall their funniest excuses.
Party	Energetic and mischievous	Getting laughs and sparking stories	Pair with a funny story for maximum entertainment, and try out funny and embarrassing questions.

When You Say "Yes"

You’re willing to admit that you *really* considered faking an illness.
You remember the specific symptoms you faked — dizziness, stomach ache, headache — and maybe even why.
You’ve successfully convinced someone of your illness — a parent or teacher, perhaps.
You’ve told amusing stories about how you got caught or got away with it.
It sparks feelings of nostalgia, reminding you of simpler times. Want to reminisce even more? Explore our deep and meaningful questions for grown-up reflections.

When You Say "No"

If your answer is no, it might mean one of the following:

You've never tried to fake being sick — or you were caught instantly.
You always preferred to go to school, even when you felt unwell.
You might have had some very convincing excuses that others couldn’t doubt.

Best Follow-Up Questions

What was the most creative excuse you ever used to skip school?
Did you ever get caught pretending? What happened?
What’s a childhood memory involving sneaky plans?
Have you ever played a trick on a sibling or friend related to pretending to be sick?
Would you do it again if you could? Why or why not?

For more ideas on sparking fun conversations, check out our family questions section or try our icebreaker generator.