Have you ever stumbled into class, filled with dread, wondering how you're going to explain why you don't have your homework? Most students have handed in an assignment late or had no work to turn in at all. When that happens, to avoid trouble, pupils often come up with excuses for not completing their homework.
If these scenarios sound familiar, you're not alone. Your parents, teachers, and even Superprof tutors were once students too. They understand how school life can sometimes leave you unmotivated to do homework. With a Superprof tutor, you'd find it easier to grasp your study materials with homework tips and meet your deadlines, eliminating the need for excuses.
However, if you don't have a Superprof tutor yet, excuses might still be your go-to solution. In that case, you'll need some convincing reasons for not completing your assignments. To help you out, we've compiled a list of the 10 best excuses for not getting your homework done, some with a proven track record and others tailored for our digital age.
1. The Dog Ate It
We head our list up with the classic - who hasn't heard about that homework-hating dog that must eat every assignment? Or maybe it's a homework-loving dog who craves the taste of graphite and ink...
The original dog who ate homework was allegedly Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise's pet fox.
The legend, written by Forrest Wickman, recounts that, back in the 6th Century, when the saint's tame fox was tasked with taking Ciarán's writings to the monastery Master. These papers were bound in a leather strap. One day, the fox chewed through the strap, allowing the papers to fly away with the wind.
Over the centuries, dogs have been accused of eating everything including, in one story published in 1808, a playing card that would have lost its master the high-stakes game he was playing.
Bringing the narrative full-circle, another religious man, in this instance an Anglican priest whose sermons tended to go on and on, reportedly had to cut his preaching short one Sunday because a dog had gotten into his study and had eaten several pages of the sermon. The worshippers were reportedly delighted at spending less time in the pews.
The bottom line: despite its lengthy history, perhaps this is not the most subtle or workable of excuses. However, should you, in all actuality, have a dog… If all else fails, you could bring a few chewed-on pages as proof.
2. I Didn’t Understand the Homework
This excuse works better for science, math or questions-based homework rather than essays. That doesn't mean it won't fly if the assignment called for you to write at length; you might simply explain how you didn't quite get the idea of what you were supposed to write about. If you plan ahead of time there are many pointers on the best ways to complete homework assignments.
This excuse hits two birds with one stone when you combine it with 'could you explain it to me?' because you'll get help with your homework and a deadline extension, especially if you actually don’t understand the homework assignment.
Beware of this pitfall: Teacher might ask if you talked with any of your classmates to see if they could explain what you were supposed to do. You might say that you asked your parents or an older sibling for help but avoid mentioning any classmate your teacher might know, just in case s/he tries to verify your story.
3. I Thought It Was in My Bag
This particular excuse works for just about anything, from the money you owe a friend to the book you promised to return. And, of course, undone homework.
It is particularly effective if you first dig into your backpack as you normally would - nothing to see here, Teacher! Just another diligent pupil, whipping out last night's work... And then, more frantically, your fingers scrabble and scour every pocket, even as you cast panicked glances around the room.
If you could work up an embarrassed flush, that would be the icing on the cake. "Of course you thought you packed it!", your teacher will think.
This one is a great excuse, it’s worked for students everywhere, especially those who can work up a sweat or a few tears on demand.
4. I Was Sick!
Not so long ago, in the pre-COVID days, being sick was a classic homework excuse. One could claim a 24-hour bug, food poisoning or come to class looking convincingly wan and plead a fever the night before.
Not only would you be excused from turning in your assignments but you might have garnered a bit of sympathy... to say nothing of a handy extension on your deadline for turning work in.
These days, if you claim you've been bedridden, feverish and unable to distinguish your cat from your sheet of homework, you're likely to land yourself in quarantine, missing out on classes and leisure activities alike.
If pleading illness is your go-to move to excuse yourself from turning in assignments on time, you would do best to stick with food poisoning... and even that claim is no guarantee you won't be sent home posthaste, driven by the worry that you're suffering from something far graver than a revisit of the pizza you had last night.
5. Too Much Homework From Another Class
This excuse would work best for college and university students.
Elementary, middle, and high school teachers usually have an idea of how much homework their colleagues assign and, if they didn't, it would be a snap for them to check. They may start by asking your classmates; their responses might prove embarrassing for you.
Prioritizing which homework to complete is always a good excuse. Even if you lay out everything you did for that supposed other class, this story puts you and your teacher in a difficult position.
On one hand, they might think: "Poor you, clearly you’ve been given far too much homework!" but, on the other, they may well contend that other teachers' assignments aren't their concern and you should manage your schedule and workload more efficiently.
This excuse might work if your professor is too inexperienced to know better or a bit on the negligent side. Best to not underestimate them, though. Keep this one in reserve for when you truly have nothing else to offer.
6. My Computer Crashed
With more schools turning to web-based platforms to assign and turn in homework, a whole new spectrum of excuses has opened up to the desperate, homework-lacking learner.
Besides computer crashes, you might invoke pets and/or younger siblings breaking your laptop, hackers, power failures and even that your printer ran out of ink. Of course, that last will be the least effective excuse, especially if you are a serial homework offender. Your teacher may contend that you could have loaded your work onto a USB drive and taken it to a print shop.
Beware too that, if no other student suffered a power outage, invoking that reason may force to veer into the 'parents didn't pay the bill' territory - the only other reason that only you had no electricity to power your devices.
7. I Was Absent When the Homework Was Assigned
Despite your attendance tick in the register, this story could still fly if you could convince your teacher you were in the restroom when the assignment was announced. It would work particularly well if you are, indeed, a frequent visitor to the restroom during class.
If you don't routinely excuse yourself from class, you may try to convince your teacher that they marked you present by mistake on that day.
Here again, your classmates would have to vouch for you. Failing that, you might rope your parents into providing a note explaining that, of course, you were absent on that day because you had to do something far more important than attending class.
8. Busy with Extra-curricular Activities and Volunteering
If you want to polish your civic, duty-bound image, saying you couldn't do any homework because you were helping others would be a sure bet.
If you're too busy doing senior citizens' shopping or helping out in your local animal shelter to solve equations or write dissertations, you will be nothing but a star in your teacher's eyes.
For the same reason, it will be less believable if you claim team sports or group activities as your extracurricular activity. Even rowing, playing chess and singing in the church choir would be suspect.
Choose the reason you're too busy for homework wisely. If volunteering is your excuse, it would be best to actually volunteer because, if you get found out, your fall from grace would be twice as far.
9. I Don’t Remember Getting Any Homework
The trouble with you not remembering your homework assignments is today's technology.
Upon any claim of faulty memory on your part, your teacher will certainly ask if you checked with your classmates. Even direr for you: what if your homework was assigned online, through your school's online learning portal - and you logged, in clearly indicating you knew there was work to be done?
If your teacher uses no web-based learning platforms... You probably DO remember getting your homework, but they can't be sure of that, right?
This particular excuse would work best if the whole class - or, at least a majority of your classmates proclaimed the same.
You can effectively get homework done by simply setting up a calendar on your phone to avoid this sort of issue.
10. Tell the Truth
If you typically dole out excuses for why your homework is never done on time, perhaps it’s time to pull out your ace in the hole – the truth.
Honesty is still the best policy, after all, and your teacher will appreciate you telling the truth. It should be a refreshing change from the usual bombardment of (only somewhat believable) excuses.
Use honesty when you’re feeling especially sincere (and desperate). Or, the best yet: tell the truth all the time. Maybe to avoid all this, all you need is to focus more on your homework assignment.
Of course, you wouldn't have to worry about recycling excuses if you knocked your homework out like the champ you are...
Bonus Excuses
In case the all-time favs listed above don't suit you or you've used them all at least once this school year, here are a few extra excuses to try that might save you from the wrath of a teacher:
- I thought it was due tomorrow
- I forgot to check my planner
- I forgot my computer password
- My parents were looking it over and forgot to give it back
- My tutor accidentally packed it away with his papers
Admittedly, for all that they are plausible, some of these excuses are quite funny. Your teacher may give you props for your inventiveness and, if the assignment wasn't critical, might give you a pass... this time.
If chronic homework neglect is your study style, be careful not to use the same excuse too many times. Otherwise, your teacher may not be sympathetic towards you should there ever be a legitimate reason for not doing your homework.
We hope these excuses have been helpful - or, at least, entertaining. Just remember that the more you use them, the more unbelievable they’ll become to your teacher.
In fact, it may just be more advantageous (and easier) for you to do your homework and hand it in on time.
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Amazing
This helped my 9 year old daughter so much with her work many thanks!
Omg these are great except some of them are a little bad but most of them were EPIC
I put my homework on your desk yesterday because I finished it early. I don’t know what you did with it.
I once told my teacher I accidentally used it as fuel for the fire at home.
good one
nice
BEST WEBSITE EVER
These are pretty good! You practically saved my life here.
how about i found it to hard
Hello! If you are finding your homework challenging, I suggest checking out the many expert tutors on Superprof.com to find the right tutor for you!
It absolutely saved me from losing a point with is really bad for multiple reasons especially because it’s close to Halloween my grandma would if ban trick or treating forever
these are not believable
My teacher is to smart for these things😔
Hello! If you need additional homework help or are finding your classes challenging, please head over to Superprof.com and one of our expert tutors will be happy to help you!