However, now that you have a bit of Aussie slang under your belt, you're a bit more prepared. bodgy = Something of dubious worth, e.g. Similar to giving someone the boot, or giving someone the flick. Wilkes A Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms, and found support for my contention in this part of his entry: Or fair suck of the sav. apples = Shell be apples, Its apples, or Everythings apples. bolshie = Someone who is perceived as being very left-wing; an abbreviation from the Russian Bolsheviks (communists), e.g. The sun shines, the sky is blue and Aussies speak a Language that we can all understand! blow-in = An uninvited newcomer, a recent arrival, someone who is not really a part of the group; the term is usually derogative, being a reference to something that has just been blown in by the wind; e.g. beauty = Something of good quality, e.g. not bad = Something which is good, e.g. John Le Gay Brereton . Shooting the moon [short story by Henry Lawson], Timeline of Australian history and culture, Calendar of Australian history and culture, Significant events and commemorative dates. A Ace! a car driver sounding his horn a lot (the imputation being that the driver was acting like a child who had received a present for Christmas, who would play with it a lot, due to the excitement of having just received a new toy). Cabbage Gardeners = Victorians. mucking around = Wasting time, dawdling, mucking about, doing little of nothing. lol . So I looked at G.A. galah = Someone who is regarded as a fool or an idiot; e.g. Rarely used nowadays. = A question asking as to someones state of wellbeing, meaning How are you going? or How are you today?. built like a brick dunny = Someone of a solid and heavy build, e.g. A divvy vandivvy van = Divisional van; a police vehicle, based upon a utility vehicle design, with a lockable rear section, used to transport prisoners (sometimes referred to as a paddy wagon); can also be spelt as divvie van. shutterstock As the debate continues over whether Australia Day should be celebrated on January 26, this series looks at the politics of some unresolved issues swirling around Australia Day - namely, the republic and reconciliation. stoked = Excited, exhilarated, e.g. = A light-hearted thanks to God for making it rain, inclusive of a request to make the rain continue (the intent is something like Good on ya, God, for making it rain; keep up the good work). Rommels comments on Australian soldiers [1941-1942] Australian slang, known as 'Strine', is a way of using certain words and phrases that have become iconic to Australians. bush tucker = Food found out in the bush, growing wild; exemplified in the TV series Bush Tucker Man (which aired in the 1980s and 1990s, starring Les Hiddins). Distinct from the British term stinker, which refers to someone who is not very nice. go south til your hat floats = A relatively polite way of telling someone to go drown themselves, e.g. fair suck of the sauce bottle = To call for fair treatment, or a demand to give someone a reasonable chance, e.g. Knowing Your Australian Slang When planning a trip down under, be prepared for a colorful new vernacular. coldie - beer. But above all else, one of the most endearing things about an Australian is the way they speak. blower = Telephone, e.g. When she became pregnant, her boyfriend shot through like a Bondi tram. crust = Used in reference to someones job or income, e.g. use your loaf = Use your head, think clearly, e.g. fair dinkum = Genuine, authentic, on the level, e.g. Account & Lists Returns & Orders. do = To bash or fight someone, e.g. [See the entry: Buckleys chance. Gday cobber! (a greeting used by an older generation of Australians)A collection of Australian slang words and phrases. she gave him curry when he got back late from the pub. he build the shed, but its a bit of a bodgy job; similar to the term dodgy, and possibly related to the term botched (to carry out a task badly, or carelessly; to botch up a job). Hes got a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock. chockos =An abbreviation of chocolate soldiers, a derogatory name given to the militia troops in World War Two, taken from a popular film called Chocolate Soldiers, with the imputation that if you put them in a fight that they would melt away when things got too hot. Have a bo peep at that over there. Aussie is the best country in the world, Holden is an Aussie car. This is part of the Australia tradition of giving various names an o suffix, e.g. A Ace! bewdy = An exclamation regarding something that is great, e.g. put the bite on = To ask someone for money, e.g. sheila = A woman. bitser = A dog of mongrel pedigree; from being bits of this pedigree and bits of that pedigree. The full phrase is Fair suck of the saveloy, but saveloy has long since been shortened to sav (a saveloy is a seasoned pork sausage). The stage manager divvied up the takings; can also be spelt as divvie. Davo, Jacko, Johno, Robbo, Stevo, and Tommo (David, Jack, John, Robert, Steve, and Tom). rough as guts = Someone who appears to be uncouth, uncultured, and lacking social refinement, e.g. fush an chups = Fish and chips; a reference to the New Zealand style of pronouncing vowels. Raymond, I am familiar with this phrase from as long as I can remember growing up in country SA especially common on the footy field! annoyed, irked. supports them), usually used in regards to people barracking for a football team, e.g. fair suck of the sav = To call for fair treatment, or a demand to give someone a reasonable chance, e.g. The phrase is based on spunky in the sense of spirited, and is influenced also by spunk in the sexual sense. bugger = [1] Damn. Drain the dragon? dropkick = Someone who is dumb or an idiot. Similar to a rooster one day, a feather duster the next. [See the entry: Bodgies and Widgies.]. lolly = A piece of confectionary, a candy, a sweet (an abbreviation of lollypop). The information for the entry bangs like a dunny door has now been expanded. bloody oath = Too right, thats the truth, an affirmation of a truth, e.g. dag = Someone who is not fashionable, e.g. Hes got a real down on him for smashing his car; also rendered as a downer. Our survey of 2300 Australians has given us a tremendous amount of information about the words and phrases we use. dial = A persons face; derives from the face of a clock, which is called a dial. He got the arse from work the other day (i.e. Hes a bit of a boofhead. knackers = Testicles. I saw you looking in through my window; having a good sticky beak, were ya?, stick your bib in = To interfere, e.g. I would strongly suggest to remove this slang work from your dictionary. Derives from the notion that men in Australia grew up tall and thin. stoush = A fight or brawl, e.g. Excuse me, digger, how do I get to the next town? Derived from World War One army slang, when the soldiers referred to each other as digger. ], bugger = [2] An annoying person (usually used regarding males), e.g. Hey mate, want a lift? noun (uncountable) Touchwood . She fell out of the ugly tree (can also can be given in a longer form, such as He fell out of the ugly tree, and hit a few branches on the way down). For instance, we can tell you what the most common word for a "very good thing" is ("bonzer"), an idiot ("drongo"), or an attractive person ("spunkrat"). Ive just done a 12 hour shift, and Im completely buggered. not worth a cracker = Something that is worthless, or close to worthless; may come from the worth of a cracker (biscuit), but possibly from the term cracker that denoted a clapped-out or near-worthless cow or sheep. The G = The Melbourne Cricket Ground, abbreviated as The MCG, further abbreviated as The G. Balmain folk dancing = Putting the boot in, when a fighting opponent is on the ground; from the Sydney suburb of Balmain, once considered to be a tough area. And the big men fly done like a dogs dinner = To come a cropper; also rendered as done like a dinner. pulled that one out of their arse. smoko = Smoking break (by extension, it can refer to a tea break for non-smokers). Cup, The = The Melbourne Cup; the famous horse race conducted every first Tuesday in November. But it s all right for her, she s got a whole smorgasbord selection of classic spunk Contemporary slang, spunk-rat Australian Slang sexually attractive person English dialects glossary, spunk n 1a. gutless wonder = A coward, i.e. there was someone running round like a chook with its head cut off, yelling blue murder, so to speak (The Bulletin, 10 February 1960, p. 33). Thats beaut, mate!, You beaut!, What a beaut!, or You bewdy!; may be called out when something good happens. Asian = Not a slang term as such, but included here so as to clear up any confusion that overseas visitors may have. happy as a bastard on Fathers Day = A reference to someone who is unhappy; e.g. crook = [1] Ill, sick, unwell, e.g. vomiting). Hes feeling pretty blue at the moment. Geez, its a real stinker out there, Its stinking hot, Its a stinker of a day. I made a bundle on that last horse race. Send her down, Hughie! someone who hasnt got any guts (courage). on the piss = Drinking alcohol, or drinking alcohol excessively. Topics Ok, the first two points in that last statement are accurate but the latter may be stretching the truth just a little. people from Bananaland (a slang name for Queensland). I have a vague recollection that it is an aussie variation of pulling the rabbit out of the hat and a shortened version of . City of Churches = Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. FIFO = [1] Acronym for Fit In or Fuck Off. no dramas = Not a problem, its all okay, everything is fine, this is not a drama (i.e. office bike = A woman who is sexually active with many men, i.e. Gropers = An abbreviated form of Sandgropers, i.e. Aussie Salute - Wave to scare the flies Avo - Avocado Bail - To cancel plans. he bailed her up to talk about her decision. These are common words and phrases that have become iconic to Australians. a stubbie short of a six pack = Someone who is lacking in intelligence, someone who is a bit mentally slow, someone who is a bit slow on the uptake, e.g. Hes moved out of home and batching it now. Bodgy - of inferior quality. Vandemonians = Tasmanians. faffing around = Wasting time, dawdling, mucking about, doing little of nothing. Use this Aussie slang in your day-to-day conversations and Aussie might think you're one of their own. Australian English (or Aussie slang, really) is a language of subtle poetry. Beg yours? Australian Army soldiers who served in North African campaign WW2 DEUCE - sentence to jail for two months (criminal slang 1950s) . chuck a sickie = To have a day off work, claiming to be sick whilst not being ill at all (falsely claiming sick leave). was fired; got the sack), bullshit = A term which is used to refer to a lie, to something said that is disagreed with, or to a situation that is disagreed with), e.g. thong = Open-toed footwear, designed to be used in hot weather, especially at the beach. shell be right = Everything will be alright. bushie = A country person (i.e. stickybeak - a snoop, a nosy person, compare British English "noseyparker". Gazza = Garry. Thanx Arvo Afternoon. Im fair dinkum about this!; or to express incredulousness, e.g. [See the entry: Bandywallop.]. grumblebum = A complainer, a whinger, a whiner. Have a geek at this!; not to be confused with the term geek referring to a studious person, bookworm, or nerd. Shake hands with the wifes best friend? Thats bullshit, you filthy liar!, You reckon Fred Nerk is the best footballer ever? Ill give it a bash. shell be apples = Everything will be alright, everything will be apples. Addition is Dry as a dead Dingoes dong, Thanks for your suggestions, Russell. chardonnay socialists = Leftists from well-off socio-economic backgrounds. Ahhh, the days of Dragon playing at the Bondi Hotel, opposite the beach. = An advertising slogan for Bonox drink; subsequently used in a jocular teasing fashion to give hitchhikers false hope of getting a lift, e.g. chong = A Chinese person; usually considered derogatory. carry on like a pork chop = Someone carrying on in an unduly agitated manner, e.g. bog = Toilet (crapper, dunny, loo, shitter, water closet). A list of significant Australiana Derived from the hard life of a dingo, who may not always find it easy to obtain food. bloody ripper = A reference to something that is really good. spunk rat n Australian a sexually attractive young person. whinge = To complain, moan, whine, especially used when there is little reason for complaint, when there is no point complaining, or when the matter seems trivial, e.g. Davo, Jacko, Johno, Robbo, Stevo, and Tommo (David, Jack, John, Robert, Steve, and Tom). Feeling inspired to learn more weird quirks from around the English-speaking world? After explaining it they still dont believe it is a legit phrase. Similar to buggered, knackered, stonkered. Some are in current widespread use, whilst others are not; some may be derived or taken from overseas slang, but most are unique to Australia. Im working on a farm, earning a crust, What do you do for a crust? (derives from the association of the term bread with money). A goog is an egg (which tend to be very full inside). Auntie = A reference to the ABC (originally the Australian Broadcasting Commission, later renamed the Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Not to be confused with BS. Basically stands for a 'Bastards & Spinsters Ball' and they used to be a way for young singles to meet in country towns. did you get your license from out of a Cornflakes packet? Tommo = Tom or Thomas (or the surnames Thomson or Thompson). dead-set. Dont trust that bloke, hes a dog, He dogged on his mates. Fremantle Doctor = The cool breeze that blows in to Fremantle and Perth in the evenings. stonkered = Very tired, exhausted. Singular: snag, e.g. Spunk-rat sexually attractive person That blokes a bit strange; hes a few sandwiches short of a picnic. [See the entry: Bandywallop.]. Go on mate, choof off, get going. Once the cops catch up with him, then itll be all over red rover. Dont be silly. Shes not bad looking. Bail dead tight = Very drunk. Come and have a cuppa. Hello. Would you like a googy egg? (can also be spelt googie egg). bloods worth bottling = A compliment, e.g. point the bone = To wish ill upon someone; from the practice of Aboriginal witch doctors, who would point a bone at someone in order to place a curse upon them. Poetry and songs, 1901-1954 clippie = A tram conductor (who would clip tram tickets, using a hole punch). barracker = Someone who barracks for a person or a group (i.e. booze artist = Someone who drinks a lot of alcoholic drinks, especially beer. if someones car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, they might exclaim Bugger! The term is used in the same way as Damn! Overseas visitors should take note that the term bugger is distinct from the original meaning of the terms bugger and buggery, regarding anal intercourse. Spunk Rat (noun) (Australian slang): An attractive person (usually male). Days of thunder and glory:). Gods own country = A reference to Australia, or parts thereof, as a paradise on earth. 70. Pitt Street farmer = A businessman or investor who buys or invests in a farm or agricultural business (Pitt Street is a street in Sydney associated with businessmen); the Victorian version is a Collins Street farmer (after a street in Melbourne associated with businessmen, particularly with medical professionals). Ah spewin mate, cant believe she took the last roll.. Then toss a coin to decide who will answer the question: Heads = Ask, meaning you can ask anyone else the question Tails = Tell, meaning you have to answer the question yourself You can't change the question after flipping the coin Suggested questions A fearsome-looking Drop Beardrop bears = Not a slang term as such, but included here since overseas visitors may be unaware of the differences between the two related species, Koala Bears and Drop Bears (the former being cute and cuddly, albeit with sharp claws; the latter being vicious and deadly, especially when dropping out of a gum tree onto a victim). Shut up, or Ill bonk you on the noggin (i.e. bust up = A disagreement or fight, e.g. Apple Isle = Tasmania. Distinct from crook, meaning criminal. bitumen = A tarred road; from the bitumen used on roads. Brian Cadd [music videos and biography] stubbie = A short bottle of beer (also spelt stubby). A Bondi tram (Sydney)shoot through like a Bondi tram = To depart very quickly, to move fast, e.g. rubber = An eraser (i.e. The next-door-neighbour wasnt feeling so hot yesterday, then he carked it last night, My car engine has been acting up, I think its about to cark it. Also spelt little Johnnie. dink = To carry someone as a passenger on a bike, e.g. Get on the bike, av a go, it wont bite ya. bum steer = Given the wrong information, received the wrong directions, misled. Can also be used in a general sense when speaking to someone, e.g. Derived from beautiful. cockies = [2] Often a derogatory term for poor bush farmers, possibly from having land so poor that they were jokingly said to only be able to farm cockies (cockatoos, a type of bird); however, it is now often used to refer to farmers in general. Go on, get outta here. He looks a bit down in the mouth; hes about as happy as a bastard on Fathers Day. She is a "root rat" She's a bit of a "root rat" That chick is a "root rat" by David Clarke February 2, 2005. Dont come the raw prawn with me!. Budgy/Budgie smuggler: Slang for men's Speedo bathing shorts. Singular: ankle biter. Johno = John. game as Ned Kelly = Someone who is brave, willing to face incredible odds, e.g. Similar to the phrase Shell be apples. Were working flat chat to get it done on time, He drove flat chat to get to the game on time. Taken from the rhyming slang apples and spice for nice. Shut up, or Ill bonk you on the noggin (i.e. Its a bit of an old bomb. compo = Workers compensation, also known as workers comp. Within the term there is an implied joke about Queenslanders spending their time bending the bananas before they are sent off to be sold. Your email address will not be published. Brekkie The most important meal of the day, "brekkie" means breakfast. dinkum = Genuine, authentic, on the level, e.g. they were often hired to work during a union strike, or to work in spite of work bans); Chinese were regarded as being linked with the spread of leprosy, and as that disease can make the skin appear scabby, Chinese non-union labour and strike-breakers were called scabs. You know, unbutton the mutton? Just like the silly Australian Culture and Stereotypes. sticky beak = [2] Having an unwarranted look into someone elses business, e.g. Bandywallop = A made-up place name for somewhere very far away, up country; examples of which include Bandywallop, Bullamakanka, and Woop Woop. chin wag = Talk, gossip, chat, usually refers to a conversation of some length regarding matters of little importance, e.g. Plural: durries. Bondi tram = To depart very quickly, to move fast. bushmans clock = A kookaburra (a bird whose calls can be very loud and long in the morning). he did the dirty on her; similar to filthy on. bloomin = An exclamatory oath (blooming), I cant believe that happened, no bloomin way. yonks = A long time, e.g. Ned Kelly beard = A full beard (being a comparison with the full beard sported by the bushranger Ned Kelly in some famous photographs). Get the root rat mug. shattered = Very tired, exhausted. drongo = Someone who is an idiot, stupid, clumsy or worthless, e.g. The full phrase is She bangs like a dunny door in a cyclone. kiddo = A kid, a child. dog = An informer, especially an informer for the police or prison guards, e.g. Chrissy = Abbreviation of Christmas; can also be spelt as Chrissie. Excuse me, mate, can you tell me where the nearest pub is? Similar to the American word buddy. tough as fencing wire = Someone or something that is very tough. arse . Can also be used when talking to any younger person (even an adult) in a parental or negative fashion, e.g. Grant Hervey amber fluid = Beer; a reference to its colour. Fair dinkum, thats what happened. knock your block off = To hit someone in the head, e.g. butchers = Rhyming slang for look, an abbreviation of butchers hook, e.g. Australian Slang Choose one of the words below and make any personal question you like out of it. Can also be spelt as bonza. (chiefly British) semen; 3. pluck; spirit; mettle (blend of spark (fiery particle) and obsolete funk (spark, touchwood)) awkward as a Chow on a bike = Acting in an awkward manner; from a negative reference to a Chinese person on a bike. Aussie salute = Waving away flies from your face. 71. av a go = Strine for Have a go, i.e. Derived from dunnekin (also: dunegan, dunikin, dunnakin, dunniken, dunnyken), from a joining of danna (slang for dung, excrement) with ken (slang for house). They had a real stoush at the back of the pub. ethnic = A non-Anglo person; in common usage, ethnics usually refers to non-Anglo Europeans. (Give it a) Burl: Give it a shot. I havent got a brass razoo, This isnt worth a brass razoo (although they never existed as such, some brass razoos were manufactured at one stage as a novelty item, based upon the saying). Winfield Blue cigarettes), swears a lot, drinks beer a lot, and has a mullet haircut. Have a Captain Cook at this. no wuckers = Not a problem; an adaptation of No wuckin furries. budgie smugglers = Small tight-fitting bathers (swimming costume) worn by men. Be quiet, or Ill hit you on the head). Distinct from the British usage of the term, where true blue refers to something related to the conservative side of politics. black velvet. he got angry and he clocked him; presumably from hitting someone across the dial (dial being slang for face, as the face of a clock is called a dial). Bodgies were regarded as uncouth louts. currency lads, currency lasses = Native-born Australians; from colonial times when British coinage was scarce and Australian traders produced their own promissory notes or currency (i.e. pissed to the eyeballs = Very drunk, e.g. You should have seen the way those soldiers charged the enemy, they were as game as Ned Kelly!, gander = To look, e.g. Bodgies and Widgies = Bodgies (males) and Widgies (females) were part of a youth subculture that existed in Australia and New Zealand in the 1950s, similar to the Teddy Boy culture in the UK or the Greaser culture in the USA. lammo = A lamington. , here's our guide to the best (and worst) of Australian slang. Derived from dinkum. You know, go where the big knobs hang out. Aussie = [2] Australia, or something from Australia; e.g. Tucker Food . bible basher = Someone who is outspokenly Christian (similar to a bible thumper). He was pretty toey about having to stay inside all day. Can also be spelt as Brizzie. They hadnt seen each other in ages, so when they caught up they had a real good chinwag. But despite not having quite the established vernacular some other countries and cultures may boast, Australian slang words have become globally adored. Apple Islanders = Tasmanians. go soak your head = Telling someone to rack off (telling someone to go away), usually while in a dispute or disagreement. loo = Toilet (crapper, dunny, shitter, water closet). chuck a mental = Have a tantrum, get angry (the imputation is that one is acting like a mentally disabled person having a fit); also chuck a wobbly, chuck a mickey, chuck a fit, e.g. Root Rat. Also used as a play upon words, e.g. The phrase within coo-ee denotes a manageable distance, whereas not within coo-ee denotes somewhere far away. grog = Alcohol, an alcoholic drink, e.g. Continue ReadingDownload Free PDF. It's like my Australian Slang Dictionary! he barracks for Collingwood. As the debate continues over whether Australia Day should be celebrated on January 26, this series looks at the politics of some unresolved issues swirling around Australia Day - namely, the republic and reconciliation. 'Bruce bailed' = Bruce isn't going to turn up. B&S = Bachelors and Spinsters; being a reference to a Bachelors and Spinsters Ball, a dance party arranged for single people, or humourously referring to a gathering that is said to look like one. Bazza = Barry. Up a gum tree = In dire trouble, in a quandary. Carn the Blues!. First Fleeter = Someone who arrived in Australia on the First Fleet, or one of their descendants. Just rack off, you idiot!. ankle biters = Young children. That meal was bonzer. Aussie = [1] An Australian; usually with patriotic or nationalist overtones, being a reference to a fair dinkum Australian. He left the pub, pissed to the eyeballs. He fell when walking down the sand dune at the beach, and went A over T. Distinct from the modern term bonk, which refers to people having sexual intercourse. Reports of the death of slang downunder are total bulldust. wet enough to bog a duck = Very wet, e.g. His mate nicked his girlfriend and he chucked a mental. She bottled her boyfriend in a spat, He seems really angry, it looks like hes going to bottle someone. shithouse = [2] No good, e.g. Mexicans = Victorians are called Mexicans by people from Queensland and New South Wales, because Victoria is south of the border. : Excellent! Similar to a few sandwiches short of a picnic and a few cents short of a dollar. Tools. Click Go the Shears [traditional Australian song, 1890s] connie = A tram conductor (now outdated, since the removal of conductors from the trams in Melbourne). Often turned around for other purposes, e.g. Well, av a go, ya mug!. [See the entry: bugger.]. Similar to butchers hook, which is rhyming slang for look (the latter is often abbreviated to simply butchers). Mary Hannay Foott snags = Sausages. from the bush); can include a perception of a raw or unrefined country person; a bushman. CJ. All-purpose intensifying adjective. coon = Derogatory name for Aborigines (from the American usage regarding Negros). BS = An abbreviation of the word bullshit (referring to a lie, to something said that is disagreed with, or to a situation that is disagreed with), e.g. Also known as a root ute, a shaggin wagon, or a sin bin. Sheila initially was how Aussies would refer to Irish women, but eventually the name stuck as slang for women in general. A country dunnydunny = Toilet (bog, crapper, loo, shitter, water closet). In this article, we divide all the Australian slang words into three main groups: slang abbreviations ending in -ie (barbie, sunnies), slang abbreviations ending in -o (e.g.