Aussie Lingo

 

UNDERSTANDING “DOWN UNDER”

ANZAC	Australian & New Zealand Army Corps; ex World War 1 Servicemen. Australia remembers the fallen on ANZAC day the 25th of April – public holiday
Apple Isle	Nickname for Tasmania
Arvo	Abbreviation for afternoon, as in Saturday arvo
Back of Beyond	Remote area, the outback country, the bush
Barrack	To cheer for a sports team, or indulge in noisy comment
Battler	A persistent trier, a toiler, one who struggles for a livelihood “Aussie battler”
Billabong	A lake or pond remaining in the bed of an otherwise dried-up stream
Billy	A small tin bucket with a handle, used for cooking food over an open fire. Also used for making tea. “Billy Tea” is a brand of tea
Blue	An argument, a brawl. Also a mistake
Bluey	Nickname for a redheaded bloke
Bloke	A male; the man in charge, boss – “He’s the bloke”.
Boot	Trunk of a car
Bo-peep	To take a look at
Bottle Shop	Liquor store, often attached to a hotel. Note: BYO is popular in many restaurants
Bush	The Outback; any wooded area or region
Captain Cook	Look (rhyming slang)
Chooks	Chickens – “I hope all your chooks turn into emus and kick down your dunny door!” (considered a mild reproof)
The “Coathanger”	Sydney Harbour Bridge, so-called because of it’s shape
Cobber	Friend
Cocky	Farmer (a general reference to all farmers)
Corroboree	An aboriginal ceremonial dance – a celebration
Damper	Unleavened bread baked in a campfire
Digger	Originally a miner, now an Australian soldier
Drongo	A simpleton or fool
Drover	Mounted herdsman, for cattle or sheep
Dunny	Country outhouse – “All alone like a country dunny”
Earbasher	The fellow who backs you into a corner and won’t stop talking; a bore
Esky	Portable cooler for drinks
Fair Dinkum	Absolutely true, genuine
Galah	A fool (literally – an Australian native parrot)
Good drop	An excellent drink
Grog	Alcoholic beverage
Gum tree	Eucalyptus tree
Hard yakka	Hard work
Hood	Bonnet of a car
Jackeroo	Young ranch hand. Male version of a jilleroo
Joey	Baby kangaroo
Jumbuck	A sheep. Aboriginal for “mist” or “white cloud”
Koala	Australian marsupial identified with QANTAS, sometimes mistakenly called a bear
Knuckle sandwich	Punch in the mouth – “How’d you like a knuckle sandwich?” (not to be used casually)
Left like a shag on a rock	Left on your own
Lollies	Candy
Mate	A friend; equivalent of “buddy”, also cobber, sport
Matilda	Belongings carried by tramps, swagmen, generally wrapped in a blanket
Middy	A medium-sized beer glass
Nipper	A small child
No worries!	Everything’s okay; similarly – “She’ll be right!”
One-armed bandit	Slot machine
Old man	Adult male kangaroo
Outback	Remote; inland regions of Australia; the Bush
Pommy	Englishman; thought to date back to letters “P.O.M.E.” (Prisoner of Mother England or P.O.M (Prisoner of Mainland) allegedly stamped on clothes of arriving convicts
Prang	Car smash
Property	Ranch or farm
QANTAS	Originally called Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd. (hence Q.A.N.T.A.S.) – now Australia’s international airline. Never spelt with a “U” and now you know why!
Ratbag	An eccentric or stupid person`
Ripper	As for great, “beaut” – “It’s a ripper!”
Round	Of drinks; what you buy in a pub when it’s your shout
Sandgropers	Nickname for West Australians
Soft drink	Soda pop
Squatter	Original settlers who settled or “squatted” on the land of their choice
Station	Sheep or cattle ranch
Ta	Thank you
Tin lid or billy lid	Rhyming slang for kid, child
Tucker	Food
Two-up	Gambling game played by tossing and betting on two coins, generally illegal
Up a gum tree	In a quandary or state of confusion
Ute	Abbreviation for “utility”, meaning a pick-up truck
Waltzing Matilda	Wandering around the country with all your possessions on your back, looking for work and hoping you won’t find it
Woop Woop	A mythical area; generally used to indicate backwardness and remoteness
Yabbie	Small, freshwater crayfish
You wouldn’t read about it!	Indicating incredulity as when you have a bo-peep at the above ‘language’
Cheers!