July 24, 2011

A Quick lesson in Aussie Slang

A friend of mine asked about a good name for a new puppy (an Australian Shepherd) and I stumbled upon this website.

Since there any number of phrases here that even I didn't know about you might find it Ed-u-ca-shinal should you ever travel the great Outback and Never Never.

So below is a random selection - enjoy!

Amber fluid : beer
Aussie salute : brushing away flies with the hand
Back of Bourke : a very long way away  [not to be confused with "Behind Burke": which is a very safe place to be]
Battler : someone working hard and only just making a living
Black Stump, beyond the : a long way away, the back of nowhere
Captain Cook : look (noun) ("let's have a Captain Cook")
Cobber : friend
Corker : something excellent. A good stroke in cricket might be described as a 'corker of a shot'
Dag : a funny person, nerd, goof
Digger : a soldier
Dinkum, fair dinkum : true, real, genuine ("I'm a dinkum Aussie"; "is he fair dinkum?")
Dinky-di : the real thing, genuine
Drongo : a dope, stupid person
Esky : large insulated food/drink container for picnics, barbecues etc.
Flat out like a lizard drinking : flat out, busy
Furphy : false or unreliable rumour
Galah : fool, silly person. Named after the bird of the same name because of its antics and the noise it makes.
Gobsmacked : surprised, astounded
Hottie : hot water bottle
Jackaroo : a male trainee station manager or station hand (a station is a big farm/grazing property)
Jillaroo : a female trainee station manager or station hand
Kangaroos loose in the top paddock : Intellectually inadequate ("he's got kangaroos loose in the top paddock")
Knock : to criticise
Larrikin : a bloke who is always enjoying himself, harmless prankster
Lend of, to have a : to take advantage of somebody's gullibility, to have someone on ("he's having a lend of you")
Matilda : swagman's bedding, sleeping roll
Mug : friendly insult ("have a go, yer mug"), gullible person
Never Never : the Outback, centre of Australia
No worries! : Expression of forgiveness or reassurance (No problem; forget about it; I can do it; Yes, I'll do it)
Not the full quid : not bright intellectually
Ocker : an unsophisticated person
Oldies : parents - "I'll have to ask my oldies"
Pash : a long passionate kiss; hence "pashing on"
Piker : Someone who doesn't want to fit in with others socially, leaves parties early
Plate, bring a : Instruction on party or BBQ invitation to bring your own food. It doesn't mean they're short of crockery!
Rage on : to continue partying - "we raged on until 3am"
Reckon! : you bet! Absolutely!
Rock up : to turn up, to arrive - "we rocked up at their house at 8pm"
Schooner : large beer glass in Queensland; medium beer glass in South Australia
Shoot through : to leave
Spit the dummy : get very upset at something
Tea : supper
Thongs : cheap rubber backless sandals
True blue : patriotic
Ugg boots : Australian sheepskin boots worn by surfers since at least the 1960s to keep warm while out of the water. Also worn by airmen during WW1 and WW2 because of the need to maintain warmth in non-pressurized planes at high altitudes.
Ute : utility vehicle, pickup truck
Veg out : relax in front of the TV (like a vegetable)
Walkabout : a walk in the Outback [...] that lasts for an indefinite amount of time
Weekend warrior : army reservist
Wowser : straight-laced person, prude, puritan, spoilsport
XXXX : pronounced Four X, brand of beer made in Queensland
Yakka : work (noun)

1 comment:

  1. A few of these are use here in the South, too. But I though a DAG was a snob talking about his DOG.

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