A-Z of Aussie

First Edit

Compiled and edited by Flora Florance

Aussie = Australian or Of Australian Origin.









Contents
(Hyperlinked Document Index click and go)

Introduction

Thanks

Some Basics About Australia That Will Help

A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Introduction To top


None of this is strictly true as Australian come from everywhere in the world, represent every culture in the
world and are part of every social and economic class in the world. There are things we consider to be true
about ourselves which may not be but on the whole this will give you some feel of what it means to be
Australian.

One thing which is a great measure of what I believe makes an Aussie to be is our ability to laugh at
ourselves. I believe this one thing makes us what we are more than any other thing.

Laughing at ourselves part of our culture recognised in many our war stories, poetry, songs and so many
other parts of our culture. Unfortunately we are slowly loosing this ability as things like globalisation mean we
now have to be serious in order to be seen as a serous nation.

I hope as you read this you can get a laugh out of this because much of our slang is humorous and we are
historically a fun loving, easy going people.

This compilation of Aussie slang was originally started as I make a habit of chatting on line using ICQ to stay
sane in my one-man office. At the time of writing ICQ had and has a lot of Russian/Ukrainian traffic. This may
be because MSN, Yahoo and Skype have not caught on in a big way up north. There is also a lot of Chinese
traffic which may just be because there are lots of Chinese people (ICQ is better anyway if you like a random
chat :-p ).

Even though I thought I used a very easy to understand English, and from an English speaking perspective it
is, I found I still slip into some light slang. Even using simple combinations of words such as put up with can
throw a conversation in to total havoc with people taught text book English.

While speaking to a Russian friend who was studying to become an English teacher, we would discuss slang
and so I started digging up slang to test her knowledge each time we met (not just Aussie). This turn of
conversation became difficult to keep up so I set myself the task of completing the compilation I had started
years earlier for similar reasons. The result of that is this dictionary.

Now all I have to worry about is my typos (see typo :-) )



Peter Flora Florance









Thanks to: To top

All the people who think our local usage of the English language is worth more than a place in the
history books and continue to use Aussie Slang.


Special thanks and warm hugs to:
Svetlana P. who got me working on this project again after it was dead and buried. Hope life is treating you
well. Thanks to all my other online friends who have kept the ball rolling with their need to know about
Australia and understand Australians. Thanks to my family for helping by saying, you betta put that in it
during conversation.
Some Basics About Australia That Will Help To top


Australia is a large country similar in size as China, the USA or Russia. The country is an island continent separated
from the rest of the world by water. It is divided into 6 States and 2 Territories with the smallest states still being as big
as England. The difference between Australia and other large countries is that the area making up the middle of the
continent is largely dry semi arid desert or scrub (small tight packed trees) land with very limited water resources.

Australia today is made what it is mostly by the settlement of Europeans. Australia has a limited history of slavery in the
northern sugar cane fields and a very heavy handed suppression of the Aboriginal people (Aboriginals make up around
1% of the population). Although these things do affect our nation the affect has been minimal prior to current times as it
was over looked by most people and government until modern times. In note these events have had some impact on
slang in many places.

Australia was settled by the English through its initial use at a penal colony (prison colony) and later through settlement.
Unlike the USA, Australia was not settled largely by people seeking religious freedoms but mostly by people seeking a
new start or to escape from the economic hardships they faced in England. After World War II there was a flood of
immigration from other European countries and in later years immigration has been from many other places in the
world.

As a country we are independent and yet proud of our different heritages. We remain part of the British Commonwealth
but we will boo the Queen and any thing English. We currently suffer from Globalism and American media influences.
Our politicians push to make us more acceptable to the global business world. We still have welfare and public health
care but we dont fight for anything until it is too late.

There are three levels of government in Australia.

Local Government known as Council is the lowest part of government controlling little more than local
community, local maintenance and infrastructure including roads and plumbing. Councils are funded through
State Government funding and local land taxes called Rates.

The middle level of government is State. State Governments control large sections of Australia called States
(and Territories which were only self governed in recent times) and are responsible for most of the infrastructure
and maintenance. State Government controls health, transport and other major infrastructure. States are funded
through taxation and Federal Government funds.

The Federal Government is the top level of government controlling tax law in areas such as income tax and
import/export tariffs, international policy and some internal resources such as welfare. Federal Government is
given its powers to govern by the State Governments as part of the Federation agreement. Federal
Government also controls interstate highways and has a changing status in other areas of infrastructure such
as health care.


A State is a self governed province who allows the Commonwealth certain powers. The States are:

New South Wales NSW
Victoria Vic
Queensland Qld
Tasmania Tas
Western Australia WA
South Australia SA

Tasmania is a State separate from the main continental body by water. Technically it is part of the continent
joined by an under sea shelf.

A Territory is a province under control of the Federal Government (they are now self governed)

Australian Capitol Territory ACT
Northern Territory NT

Knowing these basics can help to understand how our country works and why we are who we are.

Oh for you Russians we are a country of paid parking , it is a form of tax imposed by Councils.
A To top

Abattoir : place where animals are slaughtered and meat prepared for sale
A bit more choke and you would have started : a statement said to somebody who has just passed wind in public
rather loudly.
Adam's Ale : water
A few Kangaroos loose in the top paddock : someone who is mentally 'not quite there, also picnic short of a
sandwich , lights are on but nobody is home, etc.
A Lie Down : a short rest or nap
A over T : to fall over, from "arse over tits".
Abattoir : a place where animals are slaughtered and prepared for sale
Abso-bloody-lutely : absolutely and beyond any doubt.
Ace : Excellent! Very good!
Acid : the good word, the truth, the good acid.
Act, putting on an : pretending to be sick or distressed to gain sympathy. Sometimes said as bunging on an act.
Adam's ale : Water
Aerial ping pong : Australian Rules Football, description usually used derogatorily by Rugby Fans.
After dark : shark
Afternoon Tea : mid-afternoon tea or coffee break
A Green One : Victoria Bitter, a brand of beer (not understood in Queensland where you have to make it easy to
understand by spelling the beer labels, in Queensland it is called VB)
Agro, Aggro : (also aggro), the state of being angry and aggressive over a situation. Also the name of a well known
puppet on a children's program.
Air hostess : Female airline employee who is employed to look after passengers during flights. Now politically
incorrect, the term "flight attendant" is used for both Male and Female employees. Other less flattering terms used are
Airy fairy : vague
Akubra : Proprietary name for an Australian wide brimmed rabbit felt hat.
Alice, the : Alice Springs, a town in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Alligator pear : avocado, so named for the alligator like skin of the fruit.
Amber fluid : beer
Ambo : ambulance officer or driver
'aerial waitress" and "lifejacket demonstrator"
Amber Fluid : beer
Anchors : brakes of a vehicle, reins of a horse, or even one's own feet. Always used in the process of using the
anchors to slow or stop down.
Ankle biter : small child, also called a rug rat
Any tic of the clock : very soon
ANZAC : member of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in world wars I and II
ANZAC biscuit : a national biscuit of Australia, purportedly invented on the war fields of the First World War. The recipe
can vary but the essential ingredients are rolled oats and golden syrup.
ANZAC Day : ANZAC day in Australia, April 25th, the anniversary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli in 1915, is the
national day of remembrance for Australian Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen, killed in wars overseas. Recently members of
"Enemy Armed Forces" also march with Australians in celebrations across the country and is seen as a measure of
reconciliation.
Apples, she'll be : It'll be all right
Apple Eater : Resident of Tasmania. Also "Apple Islander".
Apple Isle : Tasmania, an island state of Australia, so called for the huge apple industry on the island.
Apples, she'll be : everything will be okay or alright.
Argy bargy : argument, also adjectivally as argumentative
Aristotle, aris : a bottle
Armistice Day : the anniversary of 11 November 1918 when the Armistice to end World War I was signed at 11 AM.
Formerly known as Remembrance Day.
Arse : Bum, Butt, Buttocks. Correct spelling of what the American ass.
Arse over tit : to fall over
Arvo : afternoon
Aussie (pron. Oz-ee) : anything Australian
Aussie salute : brushing away flies with the hand
Aussie wave : brushing away flies with the hand
Ashes, the : The name for the trophy in an ongoing series of Cricket Tests between Australia and England. The story
goes that Australia won the first test and England burned the stumps in shame. The ashes were placed in a small urn
which is now the trophy.
Avago : To attempt to do something
Av-a-go-yer-mug : someone is not trying hard enough and you want them to or you are asking to start a fight.
Context is important.
Avos : avocados
Away with the fairies/pixies : day dreaming.
Ay : (pron. a-ee) a general question, ay, similar to hey, used often by people, ay, who lack the skill , ay, to put
sentences together fluidly, ay, as a general pause in conversation, ay, to allow the speakers brain to cool down, ay.
Means hi (ay mate), hey (ay what you do that for), dont you agree? (you know, ay) or what do you mean? (Ay?).
B To top


B & S : Bachelors' and Spinsters' Ball - a very enjoyable party usually held in rural areas
Babbling Brook : rhyming slang for cook
Baccy : tobacco
Back blocks : originally remote settlements away from the main cities, it is now used to denote the outer suburbs or
cheaper blocks of land beyond the city
Bacon Rashers : slices of bacon
Back of Bourke : a long way away from wherever you are, specifically inland and away from civilisation. Bourke is an
inland town, hence
Bad case of the trots : diarrhea
Bail (somebody) up : to corner somebody physically
Bail out : depart, usually angrily
Bag : to criticise someone behind their back. You totally bagged them out.
Balaclava : tight woollen knitted covering for the entire head and neck with holes left for the eyes and mouth. Often
used by robbers to hide their identity.
Banana bender : a resident of Queensland, perhaps a little derogatory
Barbie : Barbecue. Similar to a cook out, outdoor cooking, a barbie is a popular way to get together with friends in the
warmer months of the year. (Not to be confused with Ken's plastic girlfriend)
Barney : an argument or fight
Barrack : to cheer for your team or player in sport, or to take sides in an argument.
Bastard : a general form of addressing someone, it can either be an affectionate term of endearment or to describe an
unpleasant character. However, should be used with discussion, if in doubt, don't.
Bathers : a swimming costume
Bathroom : the room containing a bath or shower. Not to be confused with the toilet.
Battler : someone without much luck in life and always has to struggle, hard working and persistent person who having
financial trouble or family problems.
Balmain bug : crayfish found in Sydney harbour, with a mild-flavoured white flesh. Usually barbecued, grilled or boiled.
Banana Bender : person from Queensland
Bangers : sausages
Bangers and Mash : sausages and mashed potato (potato and milk crushed to a coarse paste)
Barrack : to cheer for your sports team or player, less often used to describe taking sides in an argument
Barramundi : large fish found off the coast of Queensland, Northern Territory, and Western Australia
BBQ : barbecue cooking outdoors
Beaut : very good or excellent, perhaps even desirable. Generally pronounced bewd or bewdie.
Beat Up : an exaggeration, big talk about nothing
Bedsit : studio apartment (no separate bedroom)
Bee's knees : the absolute best, perfect, the greatest
Beg yours : I beg your pardon.
Belt up! : you are asked stop talking, be quite, in a angry way.
Best Bib and Tucker : old slang still used in some places, your best clothes. More often used is Sunday Best.
Big Bickies : a lot of money, very expensive
Big-note oneself : brag, boast
Big smoke, the : bush slang for the major cities of Australia.
Biker : person who rides a motorcycle
Bikie : (pron. by-kee) member of a motorcycle gang
Bikkie/bikkies : (pron. bi-kee) biscuit (also "it cost big bikkies" - it was expensive)
Billabong : A waterhole, formed when a "U" shaped bend in a river is cut of and separates from the rest of the river. A
billabong can sometimes remain after the river itself dries up forming a series of water holes.
Billy : A tin (metal container) used for boiling water over a campfire, usually for a cup of tea. Originally made from an
empty jam tin with a loop of wire for a handle and used by swagmen during the depression years. Also called a "billy
can".
Billy Cart : go-kart made by children. Originally named for the carts used in early settlement pulled by goats.
Billy tea : tea brewed over an open fire in a billy. Billy Tea usually has a Gum Leaf thrown in for flavour (Gum leaves
are rich in Eucalyptus Oil).
Billylid : a child. Rhyming slang for kid derived from "billy lid".
Bingle : an minor vehicle accident
Biscuit : the "correct" term for a cookie (cookie being an Americanism and total incorrect).
Bities : biting insects
Bite ya bum : exclamation, be quiet.
Bitzer : mongrel dog (bits of this and bits of that)
Bizzo : business ("mind your own bizzo")
Black and Tan : drink made with beer and stout
Blackfella : an Aboriginal, although now considered to be a racist comment.
Blackboard Duster : blackboard eraser
Black Stump, beyond the : a long way away, the back of nowhere
Black Velvet : drink made of champagne and stout
Block of Flats : apartment building
Bloke : an Australian male. To call someone a "good bloke" is to give them a compliment.
Bloody : very, used to emphasize a point (examples: bloody awful, bloody amazing, absa-bloody-lutely). In Australia it
is the universal intensifying adjective. Bloody hell (common use), something really bad has happened. Perhaps from
an old Irish catholic swear word, a corruption of "By our Lady". Not often understood as such in other English speaking
countries where is it often considered rude.
Blood Blister : rhyming slang for sister. Raised blister of skin containing blood.
Blood bucket : a term used by motorcycle riders to describe a safety helmet, see also skid lid or bone dome
Bloody oath : that's certainly true
Blower : Telephone
Blowie : a blowfly, a large and very noisy fly.
Blowy : windy
Bludge : to do nothing.
Bludger : lazy person, layabout, somebody who always relies on other people to do things or lend him things
Blue : 1) fight, we had a blue, 2) mistake woops, I made a blue, 3) a person with red hair
Blue Heeler : Australian cattle dog
Blue, make a : make a mistake
Bluey : any person with red hair may be called this by friends
Bluey : blue cattle dog (named after its subtle markings) which is an excellent working dog.
Bluey : heavy wool or felt jacket worn by mining and construction workers.
Bluey : bluebottle jellyfish
Bob's yer uncle : if you do this (whatever is said first) it will work or be OK.
Bodgy : of inferior quality, inferior workmanship or incorrectly done
Bog : excrement, See also Crap
Bog, The : Toilet, Going to the bog.
Bog in : commence eating, to attack food with enthusiasm
Bog standard : basic, unadorned, without accessories (a bog standard car, telephone etc.)
Bogan : person who takes little pride in his appearance, spends his days slacking and drinking beer
Bogged : Stuck in mud, deep sand (a vehicle).
Boiled Shirt : old slang, dress shirt with a starched front.
Boil the Billy : put the kettle on to boil in order to make a cup of tea or coffee
Bollocky : naked
Bondi cigar : see "brown-eyed mullet"
Bone dome : a term used by motorcycle riders to describe a safety helmet, see also skid lid or blood bucket
Bonk : sexual intercourse (not polite)
Bonzer : great, excellent
Bonzer mate! : that's great friend.
Boofhead : friendly term for someone who is not too smart or does something silly
Boogie board : a hybrid, half-sized surf board
Boomer : a large male kangaroo
Booze Bus : police van used for random breath testing for alcohol
Boozer : a pub, a person who drinks a lot (alcoholic)
Bored shitless : very very bored
Bottle shop : store where you buy alcoholic beverages, liquor shop
Bottle-o : liquor shop (originally a man with hessian bags going around picking up beer bottles in the 50's and
60's)
Bottler : something excellent
Bottler, lil : a child of some excellence
Bottling, his blood's worth : he's an excellent, helpful bloke.
Bounce : a bully
Bourke Street, he doesn't know Christmas from : he's a bit slow in the head. (Bourke Street is a brightly lit
Melbourne street)
Bowl of rice, not my : not my cup of tea; I don't like it
Box : Vagina
Box, the : television
Brass razoo, he hasn't got a : he's very poor, no money
Break-up Day : last day of school
Brekkie : breakfast
Brick shit house, built like a : big strong bloke
Brickie : bricklayer
Brisneyland : Brisbane, capital of Queensland
Brisvegas, Bris Vegas : Brisbane, state capital of Queensland
Brit : person from England. See also pom, pommy.
Brizzie : Brisbane, state capital of Queensland
Brolly : umbrella
Browneye : to show ones bottom, mooning
Brown-eyed mullet : a turd in the sea (where you're swimming!)
Brownie : bottle of beer
Brumby : a wild horse
Bundy : Bundaberg Rum brewed in Bundaberg Queensland
Bubble and Squeak : leftover vegetables and meat fried together until slightly crispy
Buck's night : stag party, male gathering the night before the wedding
Buckley's, Buckley's chance, Buckleys or none : no chance, Buckley was an early explorer whos exploration failed
spectacularly. In conversation - Question: what chance do we have?, Answer: Buckleys
Budgie : budgerigar (parakeet in USA)
Budgie smugglers : men's bathing costume
Buggerlugs : affectionate term used to mildly annoy somebody
Bull bar : stout bar fixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against hitting kangaroos (also roo bar)
Bundy : short for Bundaberg, Queensland, and the brand of rum that's made there
Bunny Rug : baby blanket
Bunya Nut : large starchy textured nuts with a tough woody casing, comes from the huge Bunya pine tree native to
Queensland and New South Wales.
Bunyip : A mythical aboriginal bush spirit animal that lives in swamps and billabongs.
Bush : the Australian country. It is used to describe both the location, far away from the city, and more importantly the
typical natural vegetation. To go bush is to go back to the country, back to the land.
Bush bash : long competitive running or motorcar race through the bush
Bushed : exhausted
Bushfire Brigade : volunteer fire fighting organization
Bushie, bushy : a country person who resides in the bush, rural Australian
Bushman's Clock : kookaburra
Bushman's hanky : Emitting nasal mucus by placing one index finger on the outside of the nose (thus blocking one
nostril) and blowing.
Bush oyster : nasal mucus
Bushranger : an outlaw or highwayman, similar to the outlaws of the American Wild West. The most famous of course
is Ned Kelly.
Bush telly : campfire
Bush Tomatoes : small pungent berry is collected in the central desert regions from a shrub related to the tomato
family. Also called Desert Raisins
Bush Tucker : food from native plants and animals
Bushwacker : Synonymous with bushranger
Busk : sidewalk performance for donations
Busker : person who performs (busks) for donations usually on sidewalks. Mostly musicians and singers.
Busy as Bourke street in the rush hour : extremly busy. Bourke St. is a main street in Melbourne and is always busy.
Butcher : small glass of beer in South Australia - From the theory that a butcher could take a quick break from his job,
have a drink and be back at work
Buzz off : leave
By jingoes : an exclamation of surprise.
BYO : Bring Your Own (booze to a restaurant, meat to a barbecue, etc.) Also to describe a restaurant with a limited
liquor license
C To top


Cab Sav : Cabernet Sauvignon (a variety of wine grape)
Cackleberry : an egg
Cactus : dead, not functioning, doesn't work anymore, or someone in a lot of trouble.
Caff : cafeteria
Call it a day : finish up and stop work
Call it quits : break off a relationship or to stop trying to do something.
Camp Oven : cast iron container with a lid used for campfire cooking. Hot coals are placed around and over it.
Cane toad : a person from Queensland
Capsul : baby car seat
Captain Cook : rhyming slang, look ("let's have a Captain Cook")
Caravan Park : trailer park
Cark it : (human) to die, (machine) cease functioning, also kick the bucket.
Cardie : cardigan
Carbie : short for carburetor
Cark it : to die
Carn : a rallying cry at football games to cheer your team on. Short for "Come on!"
Carnie : Carnival, side show worker. American derived slang the Aussie is Showie,
Carry Cot : portable bassinet
Casual Worker : someone who works part time or as temporary help
Cat burying shit, as busy as a : busy
Cat's piss, as mean as : mean, stingy, uncharitable
Caulie : cauliflower
Cellotape : Australian brand name for a 'scotch tape' like product
Chalkie : school teacher
Champers : champagne
Cheerio : goodbye (not to be confused with Cheerios which are cocktail sausages)
Cheers : 1) thank you, 2) salute, toast with a drink.
Cheerios : red-coloured cocktail sausages (mostly NSW and Queensland)
Cheesed off : very annoyed
Chemist : Pharmacist, Pharmacy; describes both a person who dispenses legal drugs and their place of work
Chew the Fat : To have a pleasant conversation with someone. Also called a chinwag.
Chewy, chewie: chewing gum.
Chicken : 1) person or animal frightened of something or anything or leaving early or not attending (piker), 2) a game
played with an object where one or another object need to be moved at the last minute or collide.
Chinwag : To have a pleasant conversation with someone. Also called a chewing the fat.
Chippie, chippy : a carpenter.
Chips : The correct name for French Fries (incorrect Americanisation), called chippies in New South Wales. Also used
to describe Crisps or Potato Chips.
Choc a block, chockers : full up with no space left at all.
Chockers : drunk, full
Chockie : chocolate
Chook : a chicken
Chrissy, Chrissie : Christmas
Christmas : see Bourke Street
Chuck a leftie : to turn left
Chuck a sickie : take the day off sick from work when you're perfectly healthy
Chuck a spaz : get angry demonstratively
Chuck a U ey : to make a U-turn
Chuck a wobbly : to have a fit of temper.
Chuck up : to vomit,
Chuffed : well pleased
Chunder : to vomit, usually when drunk. Perhaps from 'up and under'.

Legend has it though that the term hails from the time of the long ships that transported convicts to Australia. It
was a twelve month trip and the seas would often be stormy causing the ships to roll from side to side; a
prescription for sea sickness.

The convicts were housed in bunk like beds which was generally where you ended up if you were feeling ill. A
convict on the top bunk who was about to vomit would yell "Watch out under" to warn the inhabitants of the
lower bunks of the pending delivery.

As with most Australian slang, the phrase "Watch out under" got shortened to "Chunder" - or so the story goes..

City of Churches : Adelaide
City of Lights : Perth
Clacker : anus (from Latin cloaca = sewer).
Clapped out : broken down, will no longer work.
Clayton's : fake, substitute
Cleanskin : Bottle of wine without a label. Usually bought in bulk by companies who then add their own personalised
label and use the wine as e.g. gifts to clients
Cleanskin : cattle that have not been branded, earmarked or castrated.
Click : kilometre - "it's 10 clicks away"
Clobber : 1) your clothes; 2) to hit someone forcefully.
Clod hoppers : your feet
Clucky : feeling broody or maternal
Coathanger : Sydney Harbour bridge or something you hang clothing on.
Cobber : a friend, generally male but not necessarily. Similar to a mate or a pal, but with a closer relationship.
Cockie : 1) a bird, cockatoo; 2) farmer (Farmers were called cockies in the early days of European settlement because,
like the birds of the same name, they made their homes on the edges of permanent waterholes)
Cockie : cockroach
Cockie : short for a cockatoo (type of bird).
Cockroach : a person from New South Wales
Cods wallop : an exclamation showing disbelief in what has just been said, equivalent to "Rubbish!", or a polite way of
saying "bullshit".
Coldie : a beer
College : private high school/secondary school
Come a gutser : make a bad mistake, have an accident
Comfort Station : public toilet
Compere : emcee of a program, person who acts as host at formal occasions (makes an introductory speech and
introduces other speakers)
Compo : Workers' Compensation pay
Conch (adj. conchy) : a conscientious person. Somebody who would rather work or study than go out and enjoy
him/herself.
Cooee : vocal sound which carries well when made to call people in the bush.
Cooee, not within : figuratively a long way away, far off - England weren't within cooee of beating Australia at cricket
Cooee, within : nearby - I was within cooee of landing a big fish when the line broke. He lives within cooee of Sydney.
Cook/cook and bottle washer (noun) : One's wife
Cooking with gas : used to indicate that the current activity is proceeding either as expected or better.
Cordial : add water to liquid concentrate to make a fruity flavoured drink. Comes in a variety of flavours and similar to
Kool-Aid (USA) but sweeter.
Corker : something excellent. A good stroke in cricket might be described as a 'corker of a shot'
Corroboree : an aboriginal dance festival
Cot : crib, bassinet
Cotton Wool : absorbent cotton, cotton balls
Counter lunch/Countery : pub lunch
Cow Cockie : dairy or cattle farmer
Cozzie : swimming costume
Crack a fat : get an erection
Crack a Fruity : go crazy, insane, weird (old slang, childish)
Crack onto (someone) : to hit on someone, pursue someone romantically
Crack a tinnie : open a can of cold beer
Cranky : in a bad mood, angry
Crap : excrement, See also Bog
Cream (verb) : defeat by a large margin
Crikey : wow, used as an exclamation point in a conversation. Very seldom used today is old slang.
Crim : criminal
Crisps : flat crisp slices of potato commercially sold in packets often also called Chips or Potato Chips.
Croc : crocodile
Crook : 1) sick (feeling crook), 2) bad (crook weather), 3 ) difficult (crook job), 4) also dishonest person
Crow eater : a person from South Australia
Crumpet : duel meaning. 1) flat soft yeast cake eaten toasted and spread with butter; a bit like an English muffin but
much lighter, 2) get a bit of or find me some crumpet is to find a lady to have sex with the lady being the crumpet.
Cubby house : Small, usually timber, house in the garden used as a children's plaything.
Cup Day : public holiday when everyone watches the Melbourne Cup, Australias biggest horse racing event.
Cuppa : cup-of, cup of tea or coffee
Curly : nickname for a person with a bald head
Cut lunch : 1) packed sandwich (slices of yeast bread with filling of your choice) lunch taken to school or work, 2)
occasional slang for flatulence, to fart.
Cut lunch commando : army reservist
Cut snake, mad as a : very angry
D To top


Dad 'n Dave : a shave.
Dag : bits of faeces that stick to the long wool around a sheep's bottom forming small dangling balls. Also a term for a
funny person, unfashionable person, nerd, goof, loser. Can have either an endearing or disparaging meaning, although
is usually used for a likable fellow.
Daks, Dacks: a man's trousers or shorts, now also a brand name. However in New Zealand, daks means underpants,
underdaks in Australia. Be sure you know which one they are talking about.....
Damper : a yeast less bread cooked either in the hot coals or in a dutch oven over a camp fire. Traditionally the dough
was wrapped around a stick and cooked in the campfire coals or put into an iron pot and buried in hot coals. Golden
syrup is poured in the hole left by the stick.
Damper, to put a : to put a damper on something is to slow down its progress or reduce activity. E.g.., the Rain has put
a damper on the beach party, pun intended!
Darkie : a Australian aborigine, used in the past in a demeaning manner, out of use today.
Darwin stubbie : In Darwin this is a 1.25 litre bottle of beer. In the rest of the country a stubbie is a 375 ml bottle of
beer, quite a difference. Legend has it that in Darwin a long road journey is not measured in time or distance but in
stubbies, i.e. the number of stubbies drunk en-route.
Date : arse [hole] ("get off your fat date")
Dazzler : something that is excellent, usually said as something is a "bobby dazzler".(Usu. 'bobby-dazzler')
Dead cert : a certainty beyond doubt, a sure winner, especially when referring to horse or dog races.
Dead dingo's donger, as dry as a : very dry
Dead horse : (rhyming slang) tomato sauce
Dead ringer : an exact copy, likeness, or replica. Something/someone that looks exactly the same as
something/someone else.
Dead set : true, the truth, used to indicate that something is correct. Also can be used to question the truth of a previous
statement.
Decko : a look or glance.
Deener, deenah : an old term for a shilling, 1 12th of a pound, today worth 10 cents.
De Facto : man or woman living together as husband and wife, but not married. Recognised as a legally binding
relationship after a period of 3 months. Not a popular term, preferred is Partner.
Deli : Delicatessen, a small local shop that sells assorted foods and other daily necessities. Called a Milk bar in Victoria,
South Australia and Western Australia.
Derro : a derelict, also used disparagingly for a low intellect person.
Dero : tramp, hobo, homeless person (from "derelict")
Desert Rat : An Australia Army member who served in the North African campaign of World War Two, 1939-1945.
Dial : face
Dickhead : Disparaging, describes a person as stupid or disliked, see also "whacker"
Didj : abbreviated method of reference to didgeridoo
Didjeridoo, didgeridoo : An Australian Aboriginal musical instrument made from a hollow log. It is used in Corroborees
(traditional religious ceremonies), and thus has great spiritual significance.

Playing a Didjeridoo is difficult, requiring a combination of vibrations from very loose lips, vocal sound to imitate
birds and animals, and circular breathing, blowing and breathing at the same time, for continuous sound.

Digger : A soldier from the Australia Army who served Turkey during the First World War. So named for their tenacity in
"digging in", both literally and emotionally. Australian Diggers are well respected, particularly on ANZAC day.
Dill : an idiot, simple minded, also a herb
Dilly bag : An aboriginal term for a small carry bag that has crept into general Australia language.
Dimwit : a person of low intelligence, usually used as an insult. See also Drongo.
Dinnies/Dindins : dinner
Dinner : evening main meal
Dingaling, dingbat : a foolish or irresponsible person.
Dingo : The Australian wild dog tawny-yellow in texture, that howls but does not bark. Brought to Australia thousands of
year ago by the Aborigines, the scientific name is "canis lupus familiaris". It can also be used to describe an ugly
woman.
Dingo's breakfast : a yawn, a leak and a good look round (i.e. no breakfast)
Dinkum : real, honest or genuine. Can also be used to question validity, e.g.., dinkum? See also fair dinkum.
Dinkum, fair dinkum : true, real, genuine ("I'm a dinkum Aussie"; "is he fair dinkum?")
Dinky di : the genuine article or the real thing, especially if the object is from Australia. See also True Blue, and fair
dinkum.
Dinky-di : the real thing, genuine
Dip : pickpocket
Dipstick : a loser, idiot
Divvy van : Police vehicle used for transporting criminals. Named after the protective 'division' between the driver and
the villains.
Dirty : to be angry or annoyed about something or with someone.
Dob in, to : to inform on someone, hence dobber - a tell-tale (considered a social sin). or suggest someone for a task
Dobber : person who told what you've been up to, usually something bad
Docket : a bill, receipt for a purchase
Doco : documentary
Doctor's Surgery : doctor's office
Dodge and Shirk : rhyming slang for work. Dodge is to move out of the way and shirk it to avoid responsibility.
Dodgy : below standard, awkward, suspicious or underhanded. Similar to the American "Cheesy".
Dog : unattractive woman
Dog and Bone : rhyming slang for telephone.
Dog's balls, stands out like : very obvious
Dogs breakfast : a mess
Dogs eye : meat pie
Doing the ton : travelling at 100km per hour
Doing your block : you are getting very angry, losing your head.
Dole bludger : somebody on social assistance when unjustified, avoids work preferring to live on welfare
Dollop : a rough portion of something, usually of a think liquid consistency
Dong : to hit or punch.
Donger : penis
Donk : an engine for a car or boat.
Donkey's years : a long time, ages. See also Yonks.
Dont get your knickers in knot : Don't upset yourself.
Doodle : penis
Doona : a bed quilt usually filled with feathers. Called a duvet in England.
Down the Boozers : at the pub
Down under : Australia, THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD! Can also be used to indicate the southern
hemisphere.
Drawing Pins : thumb tacks
Drink Driving : drunk driving (DUI, driving under the influence)
Drink with the flies : to drink alone
Drongo : a stupid, inept, awkward or embarrassing person, a dimwit or slow-witted person, a fool, a dope, stupid
person.
Drongo : stupid person. Drongo footballer would run the wrong way.
Dropkick : see 'dipstick'
Drum : information, tip-off ("I'll give you the drum")
Duchess : sideboard
Duck's Disease : bum close to the ground. Used for people who appear to have legs which are short in proportion to
their body (take care using it, its like discussing weight, sometimes you can but not often).
Duck's guts : the heart of the matter, the basic information required without the unnecessary waffle.
Dud : something that is no good, useless, doesn't work or is a lemon.
Duds : trousers, see also daks.
Duff, up the : pregenant
Duffer : a silly person or a cattle stealer, a rustler in America.
Dummy : baby pacifier
Dummy, spit the : get very upset at something
Dunno : literally don't know.
Dunny : toilet or lavatory, originally an outside toilet or outhouse, now a generic term for the toilet regardless of location.
Sometimes referred to as the Thunder Box! Different from the bathroom which really does contain a bath or shower for
cleaning your personage.
Dunny budgie : blowfly
Dunnyman : person who empties toilet cans where there is no sewer connected (not many exist today more likely to be
someone who moves and hires portable toilets for events)
Dunny rat, cunning as a : very cunning
Durrey : a hand rolled cigarette.
Durry : tobacco, cigarette
Dustman : garbage collector. Garbage cans also called dust bins or bins.
Dutch oven : 1) a large cast iron pot with lid for baking or stewing over a camp fire, 2) Farting (flatulence) with your own
or someone elses head under the bed covers.
Dux : top of the class (n.); to be top of the class (v.) - "She duxed four of her subjects".
E To top


Earbash : to chatter or talk incessantly to the point of boring or nagging.
Earbasher : someone who earbashes a lot!
Earbashing : to talk to, or be talked to, for a long time. Generally implies a reprimand.
Ears flapping : describes someone who is listening with interest or intent.
Earth : electrical ground
Eastern states : All of Australia excluding Western Australia (WA). The state of Western Australia covers about 1/3 of
the continent of Australia. Generally a term used by someone living in WA.
Easy on : a request for someone to calm down in a heated moment.
EFTPOS : money withdrawn directly from your bank account using a card in a machine at the point of sale. Electronic
Funds Transfer at Point of Sale
Egg on : to encourage someone or to persuade someone to do something they are not anxious to do.
Ekka : the Brisbane Exhibition, an annual agricultural show (fair)
Ekka Day : public holiday in Brisbane for the Ekka (Queensland major fair or agricultural show)
Elastic Band : rubber band
Elbow grease : implies hard work or effort, as if one was using up the grease in ones elbow.
Elevenses : light, mid-morning tea or coffee break
Empties : empty beer bottles
Emu : flightless bird relative of the African ostrich, meat is red, tender and richly flavoured. Also eggs are eaten and are
10 times bigger than a hens egg. Raised commercially throughout Australia.
Entre : starter or appetizer in a meal before main course.
Esky : a portable insulated container for keeping food or drink cool. A shortening the trade name for Eskimo box. In
New Zealand it is called "Chilly Bin".
Evo : evening
Exercise book : a school workbook.
Exy : expensive
F To top


Face, off one's : drunk ("He was off his face by 9pm")
Fag : 1) cigarette, 2) homosexual man (derogatory)
Fair crack of the whip : to give some one an equal opportunity or equitable treatment. See also "Fair Go".
Fair Dinkum : true, genuine
Fair go : to give some one an equal opportunity or equitable treatment. See also "Fair crack of the whip".
Fair go mate! : a plea for an equal opportunity or equitable treatment. What you say when someone is not letting you
do or say something.
Fair suck of the sav! : exclamation of wonder, awe, disbelief (see also "sav"). Statement you make when someone is
not letting you do or say something.
Fairy floss : candy floss, cotton candy, made of finely spun sugar.
Faggot : a homosexual man (derogatory).
Fang Carpenter : dentist
Fanny : Old English girls name out of use due to it new use in describing a womans vagina. (Fanny in the USA is
a woman's bottom they have no idea really, what a hopeless lot).
Fed up to the back teeth : use to signify someone is disgusted and/or has lost patience with someone/something/a
situation.
Feral : V8 ute (q.v.) sporting large heavy bullbar, numerous aerials, large truck mudflaps and stickers almost all
over the rear window and tailgate. Sometimes seen with a Mack emblem on the bonnet and always with large
(multiple) driving lights
Feral (n.) : a hippie
Field Berets : cow patties, dung
Fifty k's south of Woop Woop : in the middle of nowhere
Figjam : "Fuck I'm good; just ask me". Nickname for people who have a high opinion of themselves. Generally
derogatory even amongst friends but may be used in jest, may also be used about yourself at times.
Fish and Chips : deep-fried fish in batter and deep-fried potatoes (chips), a popular take-away food traditionally served
wrapped in white paper (previously un-hygienic newspaper was used).
Fisho : fishmonger
Fire away : used to tell someone to begin speaking, usually to begin speaking their mind.
Firee : fire fighter, fireman. Also spelled fire-ie.
Five finger discount : shoplifting, store theft.
Flake : fillets of shark meat, used in fish and chips mostly Victoria and South Australia.
Flake out : to lie down or to collapse from fatigue.
Flaming : and all purpose intensifying adjective. Similar to "bloody" but softer and considered slightly more socially
acceptable.
Flat out : going at full speed, as fast as possible, or busy.
Flat chat : going very fast what ever they're doing.
Flat out like a lizard drinking : extremely busy and under pressure from work.
Flat, Unit : apartment
Flat White : coffee with milk or cream
Flick : to give something or somebody the flick is to get rid of it or him/her
Flick it on : to sell something, usually for a quick profit, soon after buying it.
Flicks : movies, cinema.
Floaties : water wings, floatation devices for on the arms, for young swimmers
Floater : 1) Pie Floater is a meat pie in a plate of thick soupy peas and gravy (mostly in Adelaide though becoming
more common, I only recommend the Adelaide ones for now the rest of Australia is yet to work out how to make them
properly), 2) Excrement which floats in a toilet (more common use).
Flog : to beat or physically abuse someone/something; to sell something; to steal something.
Flutterby : butterfly
Fly wire : gauze flyscreen covering a window or doorway.
Footpath : a path along the side of the road where people walk.
Footy : short for Football, either Australian Rules, Rugby League, Rugby Union, or Soccer. However it is nearly always
pronounced with a 'd'; foody.
Fortnight : generally 14 days (2 weeks), but if said "Monday fortnight" it means not next Monday, but the one after that.
Fossick : search, rummage ("fossicking through the kitchen drawers")
Fossick : to prospect, e.g. for gold
Fossicker : prospector, e.g. for gold
Franger : condom
Freckle : anus
Fremantle Doctor : the cooling afternoon breeze that arrives in Perth from the direction of Freeo
Freo : Fremantle in Western Australia
Franger : a condom.
Fridge : refrigerator
From go to whoa : literally from start to finish.
Frog and Toad : rhyming slang for road
Frog in a sock, as cross as a : sounding angry - a person or your hard drive!
Fuck : 1) sexual intercourse; 2) used to add emphasis to a statement; 3) expression of shock. Variations on this word
can also be insulting, humour or sexual.
Fuck-ay : expression of disbelief.
Fuck-n-oath, fuck-oath : very extremely correct.
Fruit Cockie : fruit farmer
Fruit loop : fool
Fruit Salad : a salad made of fruit, or dog or cat of mixed or unknown breeding
Furphy : a rumour. Derived from the battle fields of World War I where rumours seems to follow the water carts which
were manufactured in Australia by the Furphy company.
Full : drunk
Full as a goog : drunk or eaten to the excess.
Furphy : false or unreliable rumour
Fussed : worried, either "fussed" or "not fussed".
G To top


Gab : to chatter or gossip.
Gabba : Wooloongabba - the Brisbane cricket ground
Gabster : radio talk show host
GAFA (pron. gaffa) : the big nothingness of the Australian Outback. Great Australian F**k All.
Ga-ga : to be mad, loony, or insane.
Galah : fool, silly person an endearing term for a fool or silly person. Named after a particularly noisy parrot coloured
Pink and Grey because of its foolish antics and the noise it makes.
Gander, 'ave a : to have a look
Gaol : old English spelling of Jail, still recognised and used in some places.
Garbo, garbologist : municipal garbage collector
Garden State : Victoria
Galoot : someone acting silly, acting the galoot
Germaine Greer : rhyming slang for ear (Germaine greer is well known feminist)
G'day : the universal Australian friendly greeting, as in hello. Pronounced "Gidday", a shortened form of "Good Day".
See also Gidday.
Gday Cobber : welcome close friend.
Get nicked : an exclamation of contempt, or to get caught in the act.
Ghan : the railroad line to Alice Springs, so named because it replaced the famous Afghan camel trains.
Gidday : the universal Australian friendly greeting, as in hello. A shortened form of "Good Day". See also G'day.
Ginger Beer : rhyming slang for ear
Ginger Beer : non-alcoholic or mildly alcoholic drink made from fermenting a mixture of ginger and syrup
Give it a burl : try it, have a go
Give it heaps : to not hold back. I.e.., To make sure a car would go up the hill, you would "give it heaps", put your foot
down on the accelerator. To give someone heaps is to give them a talking to for doing something wrong, or to make fun
of them for doing something silly.
Give a Tingle : call on the telephone, as in "I'll give you a tingle this arvo".
Gizmo : a generic term for an apparatus or tool that either doesn't have a name or the real name for which cannot be
remembered.
Glam : glamorous
Go and have a cuppa : have cup of tea or coffee.
Goanna : large native lizard of the Monitor family. As a food, it's high in protein.
Gobful, give a : to abuse, usually justifiably ("The neighbours were having a noisy party so I went and gave them a
gobful")
Gobsmacked : amazed, surprised, astounded
Going to the dunny : off to the toilet.
Gold Coast : popular tourist area on the coast of Queensland from Southport to Coolangatta
Good Nick : good condition
Going off : used of a night spot or party that is a lot of fun - "the place was really going off"
Good oil : useful information, a good idea, the truth
Good onya : good for you, well done
Goog : an egg. Children will often say googie or googie egg.
Goog, as full as a : drunk. "Goog" is a variation of the northern English slangword "goggie" meaning an egg.
Goom : drink of methylated spirits drunk by vagrants
Gorgeous : Extremely Beautiful (not strictly Aussie but is combined to give drop dead gorgeous or stunningly
gorgeous to imply shock at how very beautiful a person - normally a woman - is).
Goss : gossip. Common use is, whats the goss meaning tell me what is going on or what is the gossip.
Grannie Flat : dwelling for elderly relatives attached. May be attached to the house or located separately in the
backyard.
Greenie : environmentalist
Greens : member of the political Green Party (environmentally based political party)
Greengrocer : person who sells fruit and vegetables
Gregory Peck : rhyming slang for neck
Grinning like a shot fox : very happy, smugly satisfied
Grog : liquor, beer ("bring your own grog, you bludger")
Grub : food
Gumboots : knee-high waterproof boots made of rubber
Gurgler : drain
Gurgler, down the : ended badly, the whole thing went down the gurgler.
Grog : alcohol
Ground Floor : the floor at ground level outside the building, the first floor is the next floor up or first after ground.
Grouse (adj.) : great, terrific, very good
Grundies : undies, underwear, rhyming slang for undies (underwear), also used as Reg Grundies, Reg Grundy was a
television producer in the 1960s
Gun : to be gun at something is to be very good or the best at something , e.g.., a gun shearer is the best shearer.
Gutful of piss : drunk, "he's got a gutful of piss"
Gyno : gynaecologist
Guzzle : drink in a noisy and greedy manner
H To top


Hair Pins : bobby pins
Handbag : a woman's purse.
Handle : beer glass with a handle
Hang on : wait a moment
Hanky panky : something a little sneaky or sex games (getting up to a little hanky panky).
Happy as a pig in mud : very happy, also happy as a pig in shit
Happy little Vegemite : a happy and contented person. Derived from an advertising campaign recently revived where
happy children eating Vegemite are described as happy little Vegemites.
Hard Yakka : hard work
Harold Holt, to do the : To bolt. (Also "to do the Harold")
Have a burl, have a crack, have a go : to attempt to do something considered a little difficult.
Having a blue : having a fight or argument.
Having a shag/having a naughty : sexual intercourse.
He's got a goog : he's got a bump as big as an egg.
He's got tickets on himself : highly self opinionated, thinks they are just great
Headmaster headmistress : the school principal, or sometimes vice principals in charge of boy/girls details.
Heaps : lots, very much.
Hen fruit : eggs, see also goog.
Hen Pecked : controlled or told what to do by your wife
Herb : means herb, but the "h" is pronounced. I.e.., "herb" instead of "erb".
His nibs : the boss, or the head of a group or some one who perceives themselves as being in charge.
Hoick : to lift, jerk, or throw in a somewhat inelegant manner.
Hole in the Wall : ATM, automatic teller machine
Holiday : annual leave
Holidays : usually refers to time off work or school, vacation
Home and hosed : used to indicate that something has been completed successfully and easily. The implication is that
the horse has run his race and is "home and hosed" before the other runners come in. Also indicates that the result was
a foregone conclusion.
Hoof : a foot.
Hoof it : to walk rather than take transport.
Holy-dooly : an expression of surprise = "Good heavens!", "My goodness!" "Good grief!" or similar
Hooly dooley! : an exclamation of surprise = "Good heavens!", "My goodness!" "Good grief!" or similar
Hoon : hooligan
Hooroo : goodbye, pronounced with or without the "h" , the implication is that you are also saying "see you later".
Hopeless : No hope, without hope, Its hopeless meaning it cant be done, youre hopeless meaning you are no good
(we hold no hope for you).
Hotel : often just a pub
Hottie : hot water bottle
Hum dinger : an excellent something. Something is a real hum dinger.
HSC : high school certificate (diploma), in some states this is called matriculation.
I To top


I kid you not : I am telling you the truth.
Ice Block : popsicle, ice lolly, ice sweet on a stick
Icing : the decorative sugary coating on cakes.
Icing sugar : very fine sugar used to make icing, finer than castor sugar.
Icy pole : a popsicle, sometimes called an ice block.
Idiot box : television, often abbreviated to "the box".
Iffy : used to indicate that something is a bit suspicious.
I got the wog : a cold, flu or virus
Illawarra Plums : unique dark red berry of the Brown Pine, unusual fruit has its stone on the outside
I'm easy : 1) not worried, not concerned, or has no preference to the outcome of a choice, 2) Can be used to express
being sexually permissive, shes easy (she will have sex with anyone often rude but not amongst friends) or Im
easy but Im not cheap (alluding to prostitution of oneself, having sex with anyone but costing a lot of money most
often humorous).
In a tic : in a moment, very shortly.
In the altogether : in the nude, see also birthday suit.
In the bag : a forgone conclusion that the "job" is as good as done, the "competition" is as good as won, etc.,
Iron Underpants : girdles, figure controlling underwear
It's a goer : something that will definitely occur.
Ivories : your teeth.
I will job you! : I will hit you or punch you.
J To top


Jack of something : to be sick and tired of something or doing something.
Jack of all trades : to be good at doing everything, do, repairing or making all kinds of things.
Jackaroo : a young male station (ranch) hand or apprentice. A Jillaroo is the female equivalent. Perhaps from the
Spanish, "caballero", meaning horseman.
Jacky : slang for an aboriginal native, now out of use and politically incorrect.
Joe Blake : Snake
Jaffle : a toasted sandwich.
Jaffle iron : originally a cast iron device to make jaffles on a camp fire, the name now also applies to the "civilised"
electrical versions.
Jelly : a flavoured water based gelatin desert.
Jelly kneed : to be a weak person, a coward or someone who is procrastinating doing something emotionally difficult.
From "jelly" above.
Jersey : sweater, see also jumper.
Jiffy : a very short time. To do something in a jiffy is also instantaneous.
Jillaroo : a female jackeroo.
Joe blake : a snake
Joe Bloggs : the average person in the street. Although the term is male, it is non-specific and therefore signifies a
person of either sex.
Joey : a baby kangaroo still in its mothers pouch.
Jug : electric kettle
Joker : a bloke or person, said in an affectionate way as there is often something amusing about this person.
Journo : journalist
Jumbuck : a sheep
Jumper : usually a woollen sweater
Just down the road : literally just down the road, but then you don't know how long the road is. It could be a short
distance or hundreds of kilometers.
Just quietly : confidentially
K To top


K : kilometer
Kafuffle : a commotion.
Kangaroo : The larger marsupials of the family Macropodidae. It has short forelimbs but long feet and powerful legs
with a tail for support and balance, and moves around by bounding and leaping. Tasty, virtually fat-free meat, popular
preserved as jerky or smoked not common enough in local diet given the species ability to breed at a high rate when
there is more feed and slow again when there is not. This makes it a perfect species for a country with is often very dry
as they control their own population in tune with the climate.

Legend has it that when the white man first came to Australia he asked an Aboriginal the name for the funny
looking creature bounding in the distance. Apparently the Aborigine replied "Kangaroo" which in the Aborigine
language means "I don't understand you". So now we have an animal called "I don't understand you". Dinkum?
Dunno, but an amusing story nonetheless.

Kakadu Plum : sharp flavoured green plum has the worlds highest recorded fruit content of vitamin C
Kangaroos loose in the top paddock, a few : Intellectually inadequate ("he's got kangaroos loose in the top
paddock")
Kaput : something is broken ruined beyond repair.
Kark it : to die or cease operation.
Keen as mustard : extremely enthusiastic. From the brand of powdered mustard manufactured by the Keen company.
Get it? Keen's Mustard, keen as mustard..
Kelpie : a sheep dog or cattle dog. The kelpie bloodline comes from dogs imported from Scotland, and indeed kelpie is
Gaelic for water sprite.
Kero : kerosene
Kick in the teeth : a set back.
Kick in, pitch in : to share, donate or join in.
Kick the bucket : to die. Same as to push up daisies, keel over, go west, buy the farm...
Kiddiwink : young child
Kindy : kindergarten, preschool.
Kip : a short sleep
Kiwi : person from New Zealand, a New Zealander
Knackered : puzzled or exhausted (it has me knackered or I am totally knackered).
Knee high to a grasshopper : very short, normally used with children.
Knickers : female underwear
Knock : to criticise.
Knock back : to refuse something, or to eat or drink something hurriedly.
Knocker : somebody who criticises
Knock off : to stop work for the day or to steal.
L To top


Lair : a flashily dressed young man of brash and vulgar behaviour, to dress up in flashy clothes, to renovate or dress up
something in bad taste
Lair it up : to behave in a brash and vulgar manner
Lairy : flashy, particularly appearance.
Lamb-brained : some one who is stupid or impractical.
Lame brain : a foolish or unintelligent person.
Lamington : An Australian delicacy, made from sponge cake cut into squares, and covered in chocolate and coconut.
Apparently Lamingtons are named after Lord Lamington, Governor of Queensland from 1895 - 1901.
Lamington drive : a traditional way of raising money for charity by selling Lamingtons. Similar the Brownies selling
cookies in America. However, these days fund raising is done by selling manufactured chocolate and the likes which
doesn't seem to have the same feeling.
Larrikin : a rowdy irresponsible and rascally boy or young man, enjoying himself, prankster
Lay by : to purchase an item from a store by paying instalments.
Lead foot : a fast and reckless driver.
Leckie : and electrician (also Sparky)
Legend : a person who excels, is a champion or hero, or all around good guy.
Lemonade : Sparkling lemon flavoured drink. US = soda pop.
Lemon squash : A still drink made from Lemons, Sugar and Water. US = Lemonade.
Lemon Myrtle : rain forest tree leaves and stems with a wonderful citrus flavour and aroma.
Lend of, to have a : to take advantage of somebody's gullibility, to have someone on ("he's having a lend of
you")
Letterbox : mailbox
Lift : elevator, box going up and down between floors in buildings.
Light Globe : light bulb
Li-Lo : air mattress
Lingo : language
Lino : linoleum
Lionel Rose : rhyming slang for nose (Lionel rose was an Australian boxer)
Lippy, lippie : lipstick
Liquid amber, amber fluid : beer
Liquid laugh : vomit
Littlie : small child, toddler
Little Buggers : children (bugger may be considered rude in some situations)
Lizard drinking, flat out like a : flat out, busy
Lob : to arrive.
Lob in : to call on someone or to drop in to see someone.
Local rag : noun:- local newspaper.
Lofty : nickname for a short person (loft being an attic or high place)
Lollies : sweets, candy
Lollipop lady or man : the person who supervises school crossings.
Lolly water : Soft drink, usually carbonated and high in sugar content.
Lolly, lollies : sweets made with sugar. UK = sweeties, US = Candy. Lolly also means money.
London to a brick : absolute certainty ("it's London to a brick that taxes won't go down")
Long paddock : the side of the road where livestock is grazed during droughts
Longneck : 750ml bottle of beer in South Australia
Loo : toilet
Lounge : sofa, couch
Lucky Country : Australia, THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD! (OK, so I am biased.)
Lucky Country, The : Australia, where else?
Lug : to carry, usually something heavy and for a long time or distance. Also you ear.
Lunch, who opened their? : who farted?
Lurk : stand about suspiciously
Lurk : a scheme for success. A lurk can be either legal or illegal.
M To top


Macca's : McDonald's (pronounced mackers)
Macadamia Nuts : delicious crunchy textured nut that grows widely in New South Wales and Queensland. Native to
Queensland, samples were stolen from Australia by the Americans, in the USA they are referred to as California Nuts.
Maggies : magpies, an Australian black and white crow like bird.
Make a quid : to earn a basic living.
Make do : to get by or cope with the basic necessities.
Make tracks : to leave, depart or head off.
Mallee : a region straddling the borders of Victoria and South Australia covered by scrub. A particular type of Gum tree,
the Mallee Gum, has very knotty hard wood and is highly prized for wood burning stoves.
Mallee bull, as fit as a : very fit and strong. The Mallee is very arid beef country in Victoria/South Australia.
Manchester : household linen.
Map Of Tassie : Mappa Tassie, map of Tasmania - a woman's natural pubic hair. Normall shaped like the map of the
Southern Island State of Tasmania.
Mash : mashed potatoes, potato and milk pounded to a course paste (may include herbs, served with gravy or as a side
to other items)
Mate : buddy, friend
Mate's rate, mate's discount : lowest discount, cheaper than usually for a "friend"
Matilda : swagman's bedding, sleeping roll
Metho : methylated spirits
Mate : a general greeting term and familiar greeting amongst men whether a friend or total stranger. Similar to Cobber. I
find it amazing that whenever I am abroad and meet another Aussie, I immediately refer to him/her as mate. US =
buddy.
Matilda : the old term for a swagman's bedroll, swag, pack, or sack which contained essentials (sometime complete
belongings) when traveling in the bush by foot. See Waltzing Matilda.
Meadow Cakes : cow patties, dung
Meat Pie : Single portion mince meat pies. Small and sturdy enough to be held in your hands for eating. Sold
everywhere including sporting and other events.
Metho : methylated spirits, also a person who drinks it.
Mexican : some one south of the border. i.e. a Victorian is a Mexican to a New south Welshman, who is a Mexican to a
Queenslander. However a Taswegan is never a Mexican as Tasmania is separated from the main continent by the
Tasman sea.
Mexican : a person from south of the Queensland or New South Wales border
Mickey Mouse : excellent, very good. Beware though - in some parts of Australia it means inconsequential, frivolous or
not very good!
Middy : medium sized glass of beer (about 266ml or 9 oz.) in New South Wales
Milk bar : a small corner shop selling general daily foodstuffs and newspapers. In Victoria, South Australia and Western
Australia Called a Deli or Corner Shop elsewhere.
Milko : milkman
Milo : malt/chocolate energy food drink, also sprinkled on ice cream
Misery guts : a constant complainer, Scrooge is a good example.
Mob : group of people, or herd of kangaroos
Mobile : cellular or mobile phone
Moleskins : cotton trousers designed for comfort when riding a horse. The name comes from the brushed finish that is
similar to the softness of moles fur.
Molly dooka : a natural left handed person.
Mollycoddle : to fuss over or pamper unnecessarily.
Mongrel : despicable person, dog of mixed breeding
Moo juice : milk
Moolah : money
Morning Tea : light, mid-morning tea or coffee break
Morton Bay Bug : small crayfish from Queensland and Northern Territory
Mossie, mozzie : a mosquito.
Mucking around/about : simply playing around with no real intent or purpose.
Mudguard : fender
Mudbugs : crayfish
Muddy, Muddie : 1) covered in mud, 2) mud crab, large crab found throughout northern Australia (a great delicacy)
Mug : friendly insult ("have a go, yer mug"), gullible person
Mull : grass (the kind you smoke)
Mulga : the outback bush.
Mum : short for mother. US = Mom (because they dont know better).
Mum, stay : keep a secret
Mushie : a mushroom.
Muso : musician
Muster : round up sheep or cattle
Mystery bags : sausages. So named because you don't really know what the ingredients are. See also snags.
Mystery pack : a meat pie. So named because you don't really know what the ingredients are.
N To top


Naff : useless, low quality, ridiculous.
Nappy : the correct word for diaper another Americanism. A cloth or if your not an environmentally responsible person,
plastic disposable item for keeping nasty smelling and damp baby emissions in.
Nanny : grandmother
Nark : a continual complainer, whiner or spoil-sport, police narcotics agent.
Narked : to be very annoyed about something/someone.
Nasho : National Service (compulsory military service)
Naught, nought : zero (the number 0), nil, none.
Naughty, have a : have sex
Near and Far : Bar (bar for serving drinks at a pub)
Neddies : racing horses.
Never never : a desert region of the Northern Territory of Australia, popularised by the book 'We of the never-never".
Never never, to put something on the : to put something on credit.
New Australian : a migrant to Australia.
Newsreader : person who reads the news on TV or radio. News anchor (USA and Canada)
Nick : nude, especially sleeping, he sleeps in the nick.
Nick : the condition of an object (in good nick).
Nick, in the : nude, particularly used when referring to sleeping habits.
Nick off : go away. Can be used to explain that someone is leaving, or as an expletive to tell someone rather rudely to
go away.
Nick out : to pop out for a short period of time.
Nick, to : to steal something.
Nifty : stylish
Nip : a derogatory term for someone from Japan or Japanese descent. From the Second World War and now an
unacceptable term.
Nipper : young child, usually younger brother or sister, also a young surf lifesaver.
Nipper : young surf lifesaver
Noah's Ark : shark
No drama, no dramas : same as 'no worries'
No worries! : typical Aussie attitude that everything will be OK, there will be no problems,
No worries! : Expression of forgiveness or reassurance (No problem; forget about it; I can do it; Yes, I'll do it)
Noggin : you head!
No-hoper : somebody who'll never do well
Nong : a silly person or fool.
North Island : Mainland Australia, according to the residents of Tasmania.
Nose, on the : either smelly, offensive, disagreeable, or to indicate that someone's opinion or guess is correct.
Not the full quid : not bright intellectually
Nuddy : naked
Nuddy, in the : in the nude
Nuddy, in the : naked
Nun's knickers (fanny), as dry as a : very dry
Nursing : holding the baby. In the USA it means to breast feed the baby, we figure it is mostly because they are prudes
and cant use the word breast in public.
Nut : head, to be nutted is to be hit in the head (cockney slang)
Nut out : hammer out or work out (an agreement, say)
O To top


Ocker : (pron. ock-a) a stereotyped uncultivated or uncultured Aussie male who exhibits excessive drinking of alcohol,
womanising, chauvinism, and worships the God called Footy! To call a female ocker is to suggest that she is somewhat
masculine. Similar to the US redneck. See also yobbo.
Off one's face : to be extremely drunk.
Off sider : an assistant or partner.
Off the beaten track : away from the main traffic, to use seldom used roads or simply to avoid civilisation.
Old chook : a disliked and interfering woman. From chook meaning chicken. The reference is perhaps to being Hen
Pecked which is to be picked on or controlled by your wife.
Old Dears : senior citizens or your parents
Old fella : penis
Old folks : Parents
Old man : either your Father, or your Husband.
Old woman : either your Mother or your Wife.
Oldies : parents - "I'll have to ask my oldies"
On for young and old : used to indicate that a situation is out of control, usually referring to a fight or an argument.
Onya : an expression of encouragement, short for good on you.
Op shop : opportunity shop, thrift store, place where second hand goods are sold.
O.S. : overseas ("he's gone O.S.")
Out in the sticks : out in the bush, away from civilisation, in remote areas.
Out of whack : out of calibration or disorderly.
Outback : the remote rural districts, bush or hinterland. Basically away from civilisation or major settlements.
Outhouse : toilet, dunny. Before modern sewage, the toilet was in it's own little "house" in the backyard. Hence out
house.
Over-The-Shoulder Boulder-Holder : bra, brassiere
Ow-yar-goin : how are you?
Oz : alternate spelling of Aus, short for Australia, THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD!
P To top


Pack a wallop : to punch someone convincingly and with force. Descriptive of a very nasty smell.
Paddock : a field or meadow, usually on a farm. see long paddock.
Pamphlet : brochure
Panel beater : a car or automobile body work repairer or repair shop.
Parcel : package.
Pash, pash on : a long and enthusiastic kiss.
Pat Malone : rhyming slang for alone
Pavement : sidewalk
Pav : Pavlova - a rich, creamy Australian dessert, named for the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova
Pavlova : a traditional Australian dessert, a cream filled meringue case with fresh fruit on top. Named after the Russian
ballerina Anna Pavlova.
Peckish : hungry
Pesky : annoying
Pester : to bother or annoy someone.
Perve (noun & verb) : looking lustfully at another person
Petrol : short for petroleum, gasoline
Petrol station : gas station
Phone box : a public telephone housing.
Pictures : movies, see also flicks
Pie floater : a meat pie floating on a thick pea puree. Look terrible, tastes good, particularly on a cold winter nights.
Native to Adelaide, see also floater.
Piece of piss : easy task
Pig's arse! : I don't agree with you, that is a lie.
Pigs Bum : that's wrong, or incorrect, polite version of pigs arse.
Piker : Someone who doesn't want to fit in with others socially, leaves parties early
Pikelet : small pancake
Piker : someone who either does not join in with others, or gives up an activity before it is finished.
Pinch : to steal, also to arrest.
Pink slip, get the : get the sack (from the colour of the termination form). In some states a pink slip is a sticker in the
window of a car indicating that it is no longer allowed to be driven on the road
Pint : large glass of beer (esp. in South Australia)
Piss : beer. Hence "hit the piss", "sink some piss"
Plant the foot : to drive fast by putting your foot down on the accelerator.
Plate, bring a : Instruction on party or BBQ invitation to bring your own food. It doesn't mean they're short of
crockery!
Play sillybuggers : messing around, wasting time.
Plodder : a slow worker, but one who eventually gets the job done.
Plonk : cheap wine. Also to put something down unceremoniously (plonk it down there).
Plonked : drunk
Poddy : young unweaned calf
Pokies : poker machines, slot machines - prior to electronic push button machines they were known as one arm bandits
for the pull leaver on the side and the fact they steal your money
Polly : politician
Polish off : to finish or complete something. Used to polish off a meal, or to polish off a job.
Polo Neck Jumper : turtle-neck sweater (USA)
Pom, pommy, pommie : A person from England, probably derived from Prisoner Of Mother England - prisoner
referring to the people who didnt escape as convicts, Australia was a convict settlement of England.
Pommy bastard : an Englishman (see also 'bastard')
Pommy shower : using deodorant or washing face and arm pits instead of taking a shower or bath
Pommy's towel, as dry as a : very dry - based on the canard that Poms bathe about once a month
Poof, poofter, pooftah : a homosexual male (often but not always derogatory), may be an endearing greeting
between friends, gday you great hairy poof.
Poofteenth : poof-teen-th; an extremely small quantity
Pooped : tired, exhausted
Poppy : grandfather
Porky : Lie, untruth (pork pie = lie)
Port : suitcase (portmanteau)
Possie, pozzie : position or spot. (Find a good possie to eat our lunch.)
Post a letter : mail a letter
Post code : zip code
Postie : postman, mailman, mail delivery person
Pot : 285 ml beer glass in Queensland and Victoria, Refer also Schooner. Also used for Marijuana.
Pozzy : position - get a good pozzy at the football stadium
Pram : baby carriage, short for perambulator
Prang : an accident or crash, usually with any road transport vehicle.
Prawns : large shrimp. To buy, they're called prawns if cooked and green prawns when raw. Aussies love their prawns
and eat heaping platefuls. Yanks be warned, they're cooked and served in the shell with the head attached.
Preggers : pregnant, similar in use to up the duff.
Pressie, prezzy : present, gift
Press Studs : snaps
Pro : short for professional can also mean a sex worker or prostitute.
Pub : public house for buying and drinking alcohol, hotel, tavern or bar often with rooms and meals available.
Puffed : out of breath.
Puke : vomit.
Pull the pin : to stop an activity or withdraw support
Pull up stumps : to stop an activity, usually for the day and usually to go home. From the game of Cricket, where the
stumps are pulled up and out of the ground at the end of the day's play.
Pull ya head in : I don't want to listen to you so shut up.
Pupil : student
Push bike : a bicycle
Pusher : baby stroller
Put a snag on the barbie : a sausage cooked on a barbeque. That's what real Aussies cook.
Put up, A: Something faked or not real. Used to distract, rob or swindle.
Put up; Put up with: to tolerate something or someone.
Q To top


QANTAS : Australia's national air carrier. QANTAS is an acronym for Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial
Services Ltd.
Quack : a doctor, especially a bad one.
Quandong : wild, or desert, peach is the famous bush tucker fruit. High in Vitamin C. Common to arid areas.
Quay : wharf
Queen : poof, pansy, poof, queer, ponce. homosexual, especially an effeminate one.
Queensland nut : a Macadamia nut.
Queer : homosexual
Queue : a line of people.
Quick smart : straight away, in a hurry.
Quid : One pound, Australia currency before decimalisation.
Quid, make a : earn a living - "are you making a quid?"
Quid, not the full : of low IQ. [Historical note: 'quid' is slang for a pound. 1 became $2 when Australia converted
to decimal currency]
Quids : lots of money.
Quilt : a soft light blanket for a bed.
R To top


Rack off : go away, used when very angry with someone. Push off! get lost! get out of here! also "rack off hairy legs!".
Most often insulting but can be used amongst friends in jest.
Rage : party
Rage on : to continue partying - "we raged on until 3am"
Rake : a comb
Rapt : pleased, delighted, short for of enraptured
Ratbag : a contemptible or obnoxious or untrustworthy person, on the eccentric side, who behaves improperly, or any
combination of the above. A mild insult, mild enough to use with kids or in jest but can be used more seriously in the
right context; trouble maker. Examples, mild your a rat bag of a kid, serious he is in prison because he is a absolute
rat bag.
Raw prawn, to come the : to bullshit, to be generally disagreeable
Razoo : a fictitious coin made from brass. The term is usually used to indicate that someone has no money. "I haven't
got a brass razoo!"
RBT : Random Breath Test, roadside testing for alcohol
Reckon! : you bet! Absolutely!
Reefer : Marijuana cigarette also called a Joint.
Reef 'n Beef : surf 'n turf (US). Dinner combination of meat and seafood.
Reel of Cotton : spool of thread
Reffo : refugee
Rego : vehicle registration
Relief teacher : a substitute teacher
Rellie or relo : family relative
Rellies : short for relatives.
Reo : steel reinforcing bar used in constructions.
Resting your eyes : Waking up and not admitting you were asleep, I was only resting my eyes.
Retrench : reducing the total number of employees by laying off
Rice bubbles : the correct name for rice krispies, puffed rice cereal in the shape of little bubbles.
Ridgie didge : genuine, the real thing.
Right, she : it'll be all right
Right, that'd be : Accepting bad news as inevitable. ("I went fishing but caught nothing." "Yeah, that'd be right.")
Pikelet : similar to a small pancake but slightly sweet, it's sold ready-made in grocery stores or made fresh at home
Ring in : a substitute or impostor.
Rip off : to cheat
Rip snorter : great, fantastic - "it was a rip snorter of a party"
Ripper : great, fantastic, admiration, someone or something exciting - "it was a ripper party"
Ripper, you little! : Exclamation of delight or as a reaction to good news
Rissole : a meat patty, although shaped like a little ball rather than being flat. Eaten as part of a meal rather than like a
hamburger.
Road Kill : dead animals killed by motor vehicles. Some times used in conversation to describe unattractive food.
Road train : big truck with many trailers
Rock melon : cantaloupe
Rock Oysters : Popular edible oysters. Eaten straight from the shell, grilled or poached.
Rock up : to turn up, to arrive - "we rocked up at their house at 8pm"
Rolley, Rollie : a cigarette that you roll yourself, see also durrey.
Ron : short for later on.
Roo : short for Kangaroo.
Roo bar : a strong metal bar at the front of vehicles to protect them against hitting a Kangaroo. In the bush hitting a
Kangaroo can be dangerous. They move fast and can swerve on a pin point. So you could be driving along and
suddenly there is a Roo bouncing off you bonnet. And they are big, solid and heavy, and can easily total a car.
However in the city they can be dangerous to pedestrians and there is currently moves to ban them in built up areas.
Roo bar : stout bar fixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against hitting kangaroos (also bull bar)
Root (verb and noun) : synonym for fuck in nearly all its senses: "I feel rooted"; "this washing machine is rooted";
"(s)he's a good root". A very useful word in friendly company.
Root rat : somebody who is constantly looking for sex.
Ropable : extremely angry.
Ropeable : very angry
Roundabout : a circular construction at a traffic intersection to guide the traffic around.
Rort (verb or noun) : Cheating, fiddling, defrauding, cheating the system (expenses, the system etc.). Often describing
the practices of politicians.
Rotten : drunk - "I went out last night and got rotten"
R.S.L. : Returned & Services League. Social clubs for returned service personnel. People mistakenly refer to all Service
Clubs and Memorial Clubs as RSL Clubs. Only those clubs associated with the RSL should be called RSL Clubs.
Rubber : 1) eraser, 2) a condom.
Rubbish : 1) garbage or waste, 2) to criticize, demean verbally something someone has said, thats rubbish.
Rubbish bin : a garbage can. US = trash can.
Rugby : thug ball to Aussie Rules fans, a form of football where you carry the ball whilst running rather than kick it.
There are two versions, League and Union, with the rules differing slightly.
Rug Up : put on clothes to keep warm
Rug Rat : baby
Runners : tennis shoes, sneakers
Ruski : person from Russia. Communist Russian would have been a Red, Commie or Commo.
S To top


Sack : a bed. Used as "hit the sack" = go to sleep.
Sack, to : to terminate employment, to fire.
Salute, Aussie : brushing flies away. More commonly Aussie wave.
Salvo : a member of the Salvation Army. A term now also embraced by the Salvation Army in fund raising campaigns.
Salvos, the : Salvation Army
Sammie, Sammo, Sambo : sandwich
Sandgroper : a resident of Western Australia, after a sand-burrowing desert insect.
Sand shoes : joggers, sneakers, trainers, usually made from canvas.
Sandwich : two slices of yeast bread with a filling or fillings of choice between
Sanga, sanger : a sandwich.
Sauce : the "correct" term for ketchup. Normally more fruit, less sugar than ketchup.
Sausage Roll : meat surrounded by pastry and baked
Satadee : Saturday
Sav : saveloy a sausage (see also "fair suck of the sav!")
Scallops : 1) deep fried potato cakes, but only in Queensland and New South Wales, whereas else where they are
called Potato Cakes; 2) small shellfish also called sea scallops.
Scarce as hen's teeth : very scarce or very rare.
Scheme : a method or system for earning money. Usually no negative connotations, but not always.
Schooie, Schooey : a schooner of beer.
Schoolie : a teenager of school age or just graduated. Schoolies week is now quite a tradition where High School
graduates celebrate the end of the academic year with a week of revelry in southern Queensland. There is concern
however that the celebrations are getting somewhat out of hand.
School Leaver : child permanently leaving school, often at the minimum specified age and without their HSC or
matriculation (final/completion) certificate.
Schooner : a large beer glass in New South Wales and South Australia, elsewhere called a Pot. Large beer glass in
Queensland; medium beer glass in South Australia
Scoffee : Iced Coffee, cold coffee milk drink available commercially in cartons or in cafs with ice cream and cream,
mostly used in the top end of the Northern Territory (initially used to refer to the local commercially produced Pauls iced
coffee and given life by Peter Flora Florance and Gordon Roberts in the 1980s, is now commonly understood).
Scone : a fat soft biscuit that is often eaten with jam
Scorcher : very hot day. In capital cities a schorcher would be 35c and up, in the bush 40c and up.
Scratchy, Scratchie : instant lottery ticket
Screamer : party lover; "two pot screamer" - somebody who gets drunk on very little alcohol
Script : drug prescription from doctor to be given to a chemist (pharmacist)
Seppo :, rhyming word with Yank
Seppo : person who empties the dunny or septic tank, also another term for a person from the USA (old rhyming slang,
septic tank = yank)
Septic Tank : person from the USA, rhyming word with Yank
Servo : petrol station
Serviette : table napkin
Scum : person of low moral character, someone you do not like (mostly derogatory, can be humorous with friends).
Scum Bag : see Scum.
Scrub : native vegetation, similar to bush but with fewer and shorter trees.
Scrub, to : to clean vigorously.
Secateurs : garden shears
Secondary school : high school.
Section : a plot of land. Referring to the original settlement days when people receiving a land grant would make their
selection from and available offering.
Seppo, septic, septic tank : a derogatory term for an American, "septic tank" rhyming with "yank".
Serviette : paper table napkin
Servo : a service station, where you [purchase petrol or gasoline.
Shag on a rock, stands out like a : very obvious
Shark biscuit : somebody new to surfing
Sheepshagger : A New Zealander
Sheila : a common term for an Australia female, usually single and probably good looking. It probably originated from
the high number of female immigrants from Ireland called Sheelagh.
She'll be apples, she'll be right, she'll be sweet : everything will be OK, there is no need to worry, giving someone
assurance.
Shirty : to niggle, argue over petty things, be upset, or even angry, a bad mood.
Shit house (adj.) : of poor quality, not enjoyable ("this car is shit house", "the movie was shit house")
Shit house (noun) : toilet, lavatory
Shonky : low or suspect quality, either of a thing or a persons character, dubious, underhanded. E.g. a shonky practice,
shonky business etc.. US = cheesy.
Shoot through : to leave or disappear, usually in a hurry.
Shout : to buy drink at a pub for all the people in your group. The system is reciprocal in that next time someone else
will "shout". An important custom to follow when drinking in Australia.
Shove off : used to tell someone to go away in an angry tone of voice.
Showie : person working in a travelling carnival or side show. Also carnie.
Show pony : someone who tries hard, by his dress or behaviour, to impress those around him. Appearance is
more important than ability to this person.
Shut ya gob : be quiet.
Shrimp : a short person (derogatory unless amongst friends) or a sea food
Shut eye : sleep.
Sickie : a day off work, although often the reasons for taking a sickie have nothing to do with sickness or health but
rather with when you don't feel like working and want to do other things such as recreation and enjoyment.
Sicko :. pervert, depraved person, person with low moral values, unclean, bad or dirty habits (humorous with friends).
Singlet : a sleeveless cotton undershirt.
Skedaddle : to depart quickly.
Skeg : Surf rider
Skerrick : an very small quantity, usually immeasurable.
Skid Lid : a term used by motorcycle riders to describe a safety helmet, see also blood bucket or bone dome
Skint : broke, absolutely NO money.
Skinny Dipping : swimming naked
Skite : boast, brag
Skivvy : a shirt with a turtle neck.
Skull, to : to drink your drink in one go.
Skull/Skol (a beer) : to drink a beer in a single draught without taking a breath
Slab : a carton of 24 cans (tinnies) or stubbies of beer.
Slack : lazy..
Slacker : a person who either does not work or who tries there best to get away with doing as little work as possible,
even if this threatens their salary.
Slacking : being lazy.
Sleepout : house verandah, porch converted to a bedroom
Slog : hard and strenuous work, See also Yakka.
Sock : punch or hit someone..
Solicitor : lawyer, attorney
Sook : cry baby, timid and shy cowardly person
Slouch Hat : famous hat worn by the Australian Army. Symbol of Aussie courage and pride.
Smoko : originally a 10-15 minute break from work for a cigarette, it now means a break for a cup of tea/coffee.
Snag : a thin sausage or a problem. For a problem the reference is taken from the fishing term describing something
which your line gets caught on. UK = banger.
SNAG : Sensitive New Age Guy, a man sensitive to a womans needs.
Snow job : a con job , a misdirection from the truth.
Sook : a weak-willed person who is likely to burst into tears ad the slightest provocation. person or animal who is soft,
tame, inoffensive.
Spag bol : spaghetti bolognaise
Sparkie : an electrician, also called a leckie
Sparrows fart : early in the morning dawn or pre-dawn. I have to get up at sparrows fart.
Spewin' : very angry, throwing up
Spiffed : drunk, intoxicated or happy, overjoyed.
Spiffy, pretty spiffy : great, excellent.
Spit the dummy : to make up a fuss, to have a tantrum (dummy is a baby's pacifier in USA, item for babies to suck on)
Sponge, sponger : a free loader, or one who lives of the good graces of another.
Sport : a generic term for a male friend, similar to mate, mainly used with children and in some rural areas.
Spot on : perfect, correct or exact.
Sprog : semen
Sprog, Sproglet : offspring, children
Spruiker : man who stands outside a nightclub, shop or restaurant trying to persuade people to enter by speaking
loudly to passersby about what is on offer inside.
Sprung : caught doing something wrong
Spud : potato
Spunk : a good looking person (of either sex)
Square the Circle : attempt the impossible, not common more commonly putting the square peg in the round hole.
Squatter : originally a land owner who leased land from the Government, it now refers to someone who is occupying
someone else's land illegally.
Squiz, squizz : a scrutinising look.
Stack : an accident, normal a vehicle accident
Stack hat : a bicycle helmet, stack being an accident and a hat being a thing on your head
Standover man : a large man, usually gang-related, who threatens people with physical violence in order to have
his wishes carried out.
Starkers : Naked.
State School : public school, government funded, the primary form of education in Australia. Because they are in
essence non-denominational, Private Schools exist to provide a number of cultural and religious education options.
Station : a large farm (100s of kilometres in size), usually cattle or sheep. US = ranch.
Stark bollocking naked : phrase used in conversation normally to describe a tate of shock at finding someone naked.
Starkers : naked. Can also mean crazy, mad, insane (but not often).
Start raving mad : totally insane
Stickybeak : an overly inquisitive or nosy person who cannot mind their own business.
Stockman : person who tends livestock on horseback. (Cowboy USA)
Stoked : very pleased
Stonkered : drunk
Strewth, struth : an exclamation or expression of amazement, mild oath ("Strewth, that Chris is a bonzer bloke")
perhaps short for "its the truth".
Strides : trousers :
Strine : Australian slang and pronunciation. Strine is a nasally contraction of "Australian".
Stroppy : difficult, complaining, angry
Stubby : small short-necked bottle of beer (about 375ml or 12 oz.)
Stubbie holder : normally made from polystyrene a holder for a stubbie beer bottle that increases the grip factor and
keeps the beer cool.
Stubbies : a brand name for a style of men's shorts. Not to be confused with "stubby" which is a small size bottle of
beer.
Stuffed : exhausted
Stuffed, I'll be : expression of surprise
Stuffed up : messed up.
Stunned mullet : used to describe the look on someone's face who is absolutely surprised, bewildered or
uncomprehending.
Sunbake : sunbathe
Sunday Best : Best clothes, taken from a time when you wore your best clothing when going to church on Sunday.
Sundee : Sunday
Sunnies : sunglasses
Sunshine State : Queensland, (slogan "Beautiful one day, perfect the next").
Sus : suspicious
Sus, to : to inspect or look into a situation. Also to sus out.
Sussed : used to indicate that something in a situation has been investigated and is now understood or figured out.
Surfies : people who go surfing - usually more often than they go to work!
Swag : the old term for a swagman's bedroll, swag, pack, or sack which contained essentials (usually a blanker, billy,
flour, tea and sugar which were sometimes his complete belongings) when travelling in the bush by foot. See also
Matilda.
Swaggie, swagman : from the Great Depression Era, a wander who travelled the country side looking for casual work
when work was scarce in the cities. He would take along enough possessions in his Swag, see above. A swagman - a
tramp. From the Great Depression when so many were out of work.
Sweet : good, in context is everything is sweet
Sweets : dessert for dinner, or another word for candy and lollies.
Swimmers : swim suit
Swot : studious person
Swot, to : to study hard, usually whilst at school
T To top


Ta : thank you
TAFE : Tertiary and Further Education. Government funded higher education, similar to university but offering trade
level education.
Tailgate : to drive too closely to the vehicle in front of you.
Take away food : food that you take home to eat, US = take out.
Take away, take away shop : eatery with food generally eaten off the premises
Taking a sickie : taking time off work when not really sick
Tall poppy : a successful person or achiever who, as a result, is the target of jealousy and grudging remarks.
Tall poppies : successful people
Tall poppy syndrome : the Australian tendency to criticize successful people
Tallie : very large bottle of beer (about 750ml or 24 oz.)
Tally ho : a brand name for popular cigarette papers.
Tap : faucet
Tassie : Tasmania, also see map of tassie which is something else again.
Taswegian : derogatory term for a person from Tasmania
Tats : tattoo
Taxi rank : a taxi stand.
Tea : light meal late afternoon or the evening meal and usually the main meal of the day. Also called dinner and a drink.
Technicolor yawn : vomit
Tee up : to arrange or organise an event, to set up (an appointment)
Telly : television
The Alice : Alice Springs, Northern Territory
The build up : the 1 to 3 months of hot humid weather which proceed the tropical northern wet season rains.
The Gabba : a cricket ground at Wooloongabba in Brisbane. Its easier to say Gabba than Wooloongabba!
The Gong : Wollongong, New South Wales
The long paddock : the areas alongside country roads and stock routes often used to graze cattle during droughts or
rough times.
The Lucky Country : Australia (of course)
The Rock : Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock), Northern Territory
The Wet, the wet season : the rainy season during Summer in northern tropical Australia and in the central desert
areas.
Thingo : Wadjamacallit, thingummy, whatsit
This arvo : this afternoon.
Thongs : rubber sandals, called flip-flops in New Zealand on account of the noise they make when walking.
Throw-down : small bottle of beer which you can throw down quickly.
Thick Skinned : someone who can accept insult without hurt. Skin so thick insults and bad words can not get through.
Thug ball : Rugby, description usually used derogatorily by Aussie Rules fans.
Thunder box : dunny, toilet.
Tickets, to have on oneself : to have a high opinion of oneself
Tinfoil : aluminum foil
Tingle, to give someone a : to give someone a telephone call.
Tin Lid : kid (rhyming slang)
Tinny, tinnie : 1) a can of beer; 2) low quality, shonky; 3) small aluminium boat in the Northern Territory and
Queensland, even though they are both made of aluminium.
Tin-arsed, tinny : lucky
Tip : rubbish dump (garbage dump USA)
Toad-in-the-Hole : 1) egg cooked into the middle of fried bread, 2) sausages or other meat baked in batter
Togs : bathers or swimming costume in Queensland and Victoria.
Toilet : Dunny, Loo, Lav, Little Room, Throne Room, Thunder Box, Toot, Bog, Long Drop, Karsie, Powder Room (I may
have left some out yet).

For mens toilets the sign may say Men, Gents, stallions (male horse). For womens toilets the sign may say
Ladies, Women, Fillies (female horse). Any number of words related to gender may be used in different places.

The action of going to the toilet may be going for number 1s, going for number 2s, of to loose some weight, off
to point percy at the porcelain, going for a wiz or tinkle; any number of slightly rude but humorous phrases may
be used.

Toilet humour is recognised part of Australian humour and just is often used to describe this basic human
function. Whatever is said, dont take it the wrong way or think it deliberately rude.

Tomato sauce : the "correct" name for ketchup or catsup. Rhyming slang dead horse means tomato sauce.
Tomato sauces : the horses or the horse races.
Toodle-oo, Toole-pip : goodbye, I am just off now.
Too right : an affirmation or agreement. Definitely!
Toot : toilet
Top End : the northern part of the Northern Territory.
Top Ender : a Resident of the Northern Territory.
Torch : a flashlight or hand held battery powered illumination device.
Totally nackered : absolutely exhausted or very tired.
Track, the : the Alice Springs to Darwin Highway.
Trackies : tracksuit
Trackie daks/dacks : tracksuit pants
Tracksuit : sweatshirt and sweatpants, sold as a complete set and often worn around the house when feeling lazy.
Trannie : 1) transistor radio, 2) transmission or gearbox of a car, 3) a transvestite.
Treadly : bicycle, bike
Trolley : supermarket cart, luggage cart
Troppo : crazy or insane. Not necessarily a mental disorder. A description of the way people can go crazy in the
tropics. A tropical state of mind and being.
Trouble and Strife : rhyming slang for wife. Strife means in trouble and all men are always in trouble with their wives.
Trough lolly : the solid piece of perfumed disinfectant in a men's urinal
Tuck Shop : school canteen or cafeteria or eatery
Trucky, Truckie : a driver of large trucks. Normally a male but not so much these days. Also implies a blokey character.
True blue : genuine, authentic, honest, Australian person or thing. Also implies pride. Patriotic
Tucker : food
Tuckerbag, tuckerbox : a bag or box for storing food. Originally used by outdoor workers, the present equivalent is the
Esky. The tuckerbox has been immortalised in the song "Where the dog sat on the tucker box."
Tuck Shop : school canteen or cafeteria or eatery
Turps : short for Mineral Turpentine, also slang for strong alcohol liquor.
Turps, hit the : go on a drinking binge
Turn it up : stop what your saying or doing as its not right, your lying.
Tweeds : trousers, pants
Twit : a idiot or fool.
Two up : a traditional Australian gambling game. Two coins, must be Pennies, are thrown in the air and callers bet on
how they will land. Officially illegal except in licensed casinos, the game is tolerated on Anzac Day as it was a pastime
for soldiers during the two World Wars.
Tyke : small child, usually aged 3-6 years or so.
Typo : commonly used in on-line conversation, describes bad typing skills or cover up poor smelling (*spelling )
Tyre : tire, that round rubber thing that fits over the wheel of your car.
U To top


Ugg boot, uggs, uggies: a soft boot made from sheepskin with the fleece inside to provide a warm lining. Ugg is short
for ugly boot.
Umpie : umpire
Underdacks : underpants, briefs or jocks.
Underground mutton : rabbit. Mutton being the meat of sheep over one year of age.
Undies : underpants, briefs or jocks.
Uni : university, college, institute
Unit : flat, apartment
Up a gum tree : confused, in a quandary about a problem.
Up north : Queensland according to New South Wales, which is up north according to Victoria.
Up oneself : have a high opinion of oneself - "he's really up himself"
Up somebody, get : to rebuke somebody - "the boss got up me for being late"
Up the Duff : pregnant
Up yourself : having a large ego.
Useful as an ashtray on a motorbike : unhelpful or incompetent person or thing
Useful as tits on a bull : unhelpful or incompetent person or thing - "he, she or it is about as useful as tits on a bull".
Ute : utility vehicle, invented in Australia. US = pickup truck.
V To top


VB : Victoria Bitter, a brand of bitter beer. Called Greenie or VB, be sure to call it VB in Queensland as they need to
spell there beer names to understand them. See also XXXX.
Vedgies : vegetables
Vee dub : a Volkswagen car. Short for V Double U (VW).
Vegemite : a savoury spread, made from an extract of brewers yeast. Found in almost every Aussie kitchen, but a
seldom acquired taste for non-Australians. Is a little salty in taste and is mostly used on toast (cooked bread slices) or
sandwiches with butter or margarine, must be spread thin which most non-Australian do not realise when first trying it.
Many non-Australians think it is eaten like a jam and use large quantities first time and never try it again due to the
intensity of the flavour. Salty flavours are very common in foods from warm climate areas.
Veggies : vegetables
Veg out : relax
Veg out : to relax and think of nothing, veg in front of the TV (like a vegetable)
Veggie, veggo : vegetarian
Vinnie's : St. Vincent De Paul's (charity thrift stores and hostels) or the home of any person named Vincent.
W To top


WACA (pron. whacker) : Western Australian Cricket Association and the Perth cricket ground
Waffle : nonsense
Wag : skip school (truancy in USA)
Waggin' school : playing truant, skipping school.
Walkabout : go for a long walk that lasts for an indefinite amount of time, Aboriginals used this period for spiritual
enlightenment.
Walkabout, it's gone : it's lost, can't be found
Wallop : to thrash in a fight.
Waltzing Matilda : to walk or wander aimlessly in the bush or country. See Matilda. Immortalised in the song "Waltzing
Matilda", the unofficial Australian National Anthem and better that the real one if less nationalistic.
Waterhole : a pub or hotel.
Wank : masterbate
Wanker : man that's really stupid but thinks he's the greatest. See wank.
Waterhole, watering hole : see pub
Wattle Seed : certain Acacia seeds dry roasted and ground to enhance their natural nutty, coffee-like flavour.
Wax-head : surfer or skeg.
Weatherboard : the type of house construction whereby the outer covering is a series of overlapping wooden planks
nailed to the outside of the frames.
Wear your Sunday best : dress in your best clothes
Wedges : spiced chips cut in large wedges
Weekend warrior : army reservist, someone who plays at solders on the weekends.
Weetbix : wholegrain breakfast biscuits
Wellies : Wellington boots, gumboots. Knee-high boots worn to keep your feet dry.
Westralia : Western Australia
Whack : to place unceremoniously, to attempt, or to hit.
Whacker, whacka : Idiot; somebody who talks drivel; somebody with whom you have little patience; a dickhead
Wharfie : a dockside worker, longshoreman
What for : severe punishment, as in "to give what for".
Whinge, winge : to whine or complain incessantly.
Whinger : a person who whinges a lot.
Whip up : to create or make very quickly and seemly without effort.
White pointers : topless (female) sunbathers
Whiteant (verb) : to criticise something to deter somebody from buying it. A car dealer might whiteant another dealer's
cars or a real estate salesman might whiteant another agent's property
White ants : termites (not really ants at all), small insects that eat wood and timber.
White or black? : referring to tea and coffee, as to whether is it required with or without milk.
Wicket : referring to the playing field of life and business. You can be on a good wicket, privileged or advantaged, or on
a bad wicket, disadvantaged.
Willy nilly : without thought or organisation.
Willy willy : a small whirlwind or dust devil.
Windscreen : windshield, front window of a vehicle
Winge : Complain whiningly
Winger : person who complains constantly (whinge)
Witchetty grub : white tree boring grubs. Eaten raw or cooked by Aborigines. They are very nutritious with an oily, nutty
flavour and a good source of calcium and iron. It's an acquired taste.
Wobbly : excitable behaviour ("I complained about the food and the waiter threw a wobbly")
Wobbly boot on, he's got the : drunk
Wog : flu or trivial illness
Wog : person of Mediterranean origin. A milder insult than the same word in the UK and perhaps elsewhere.
Wombat : somebody who eats, roots and leaves (see also root)
Wonky : unstable or in a bad condition that adversely affects performance.
Woofer : a dog, free farm labourer (Workers On Organic Farms scheme, travellers work for rent and food while
travelling around Australia)
Woolies : knitted woollen clothing. Also Woolworths Supermarket
Woop woop : a unidentifiable (mythical?) place inland a long, long way away and far from civilization, invented name
for any small unimportant town
Wowser : straight-laced person, prude, puritan, spoilsport, person of extreme religious convictions.
Wrapped : extremely happy
Wrinklies : senior citizens
Wuss : coward; nervous person or animal
X To top


XXXX : famous but undrinkable Queensland brand of beer, pronounced "4x" NOT "XXXX" (because XXXX is to hard to
spell, see also VB :-p~ )



Y To top


Yabber : to talk too much
Yabby : a small freshwater lobster/crayfish (Cherax destructor)
Yack : talk, as in get together for a yack.
Yahoo : sound made in celebration, internet search engine, an uncouth person lacking in manners
Yakka : hard manual labour. Possibly an Aboriginal word.
Yank : person from the USA
Yank tank : A large American car.
Yarn : a story, usually long, intriguing and entertaining, either fictional or not.
Yarn, to : to have a talk or discussion with someone.
Yer : your
Yewy : u-turn in traffic ("chuck a yewy at the next traffic lights")
Yobbo : an uncouth person. See also Yahoo.
Yonks : a long time, ages.
You are a galah : loud, rudely behaved person.
You dirty grub : dirty eater or dirty child.
You little beauty, that's beaut, you bewdy : excited approval, something has gone really well.
Your shout : your turn to buy the drinks



Z To top


Zack : a Sixpence. Pre decimal currency used before Feb 1966. The term is still used today, but to indicate that
someone is broke - "it isn't worth a zack", "he hasn't got a zack", "I haven't got a zack".
Zebra crossing : a pedestrian crossing where the road is painted with white stripes on the black bitumen.
Zed : the Australian and British pronunciation, and therefor "correct" pronunciation, of the letter Z. US = Zee because
they have no idea how to speak.
Zeds : to do with sleep, as pushing up zeds.
Zonked : exhausted













The End
-I hope -