Ditching

Ditching refers to the act of abandoning or discarding something or someone. It is an informal term used in a variety of contexts, from everyday slang to technical vocabulary. Ditching can describe skipping obligations, such as a class or meeting, or abandoning a plan, object, or relationship. The tone of the term ranges from casual to critical depending on context and intent.

In education, ditching class or school means deliberately not attending. It is common in youth culture and may be motivated by social, emotional, or logistical reasons. Most schools treat truancy seriously, with potential disciplinary action or consequences for missed instruction.

In aviation, ditching is a controlled emergency landing on water. Crews follow procedures to minimize risk, using life jackets and often flotation devices or lifeboats. Ditching is rare and treated as a high-risk scenario that requires training and coordinated decision-making.

In nautical and general use, to ditch can mean to abandon a vessel or to discard gear by throwing it overboard in an emergency. The intent is to preserve life or safety when continued operation is untenable, though the action can have serious consequences.