Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US campus) to give up, esp. one’s work.

1967–8		Baker et al. CUSS 178: Punt Waste time, not study. Do poorly on an exam.
1975		G. Underwood ‘Razorback Sl.’ in AS L:1/2 64: I’m going to have to punt in chemistry.
1989		J. Doyle College Sl. Dict. 🌐 punt [MIT] to cut class, skip a problem set, or otherwise avoid doing academic work.

2. to dismiss from a job.

2014		T. Black Artefacts of the Dead [ebook] Bob, get real, if the Sun punts Sinclair he’ll just go freelance and chase us but with an axe to grind this time.
2016		N. Cummins Adventures of the Honey Badger [ebook] VITAL AUSSIE VERNACULAR Get the Arse: Get sacked or punted.