A-Z Aussie Slang for our Schwerin Visitors

A

Ace! : Excellent! Very good!
Aerial pingpong : Australian Rules football
Amber fluid : beer
Ankle biter : small child
Apples, she'll be : It'll be alright
Arvo : afternoon
Aussie (pron. Ozzie) : Australian
Aussie salute : brushing away flies with the hand
Avos : avocados

B

B & S : Bachelors' and Spinsters' Ball - a very enjoyable party usually held in rural areas
Back of Bourke : a very long way away
Bail (somebody) up : to corner somebody physically
Bail out : depart, usually angrily
Banana bender : a person from Queensland
Barbie : barbecue (noun)
Barrack : to cheer on (football team etc.)
Bastard : term of endearment
Bathers : swimming costume
Battler : someone working hard and only just making a living
Beaut, beauty : great, fantastic
Big-note oneself : brag, boast
Bikkie : biscuit (also "it cost big bikkies" - it was expensive)
Billabong : an ox-bow river or watering hole
Billy : large tin can used to boil water over a campfire for tea
Bingle : motor vehicle accident
Bities : biting insects
Bitzer : mongrel dog (bits of this and bits of that)
Bizzo : business ("mind your own bizzo")
Black Stump, beyond the : a long way away, the back of nowhere
Bloke : man, guy
Bloody : very (bloody hard yakka)
Bloody oath! : that's certainly true
Blow in the bag : have a breathalyser test
Blowie : blow fly
Bludger : lazy person, layabout, somebody who always relies on other people to do things or lend him things
Blue : fight ("he was having a blue with his wife")
Blue, make a : make a mistake
Bluey : pack, equipment, traffic ticket, redhead
Bluey : blue cattle dog (named after its subtle markings) which is an excellent working dog. Everyone's favourite all-Aussie dog.
Bluey : heavy wool or felt jacket worn by mining and construction workers.
Bluey : bluebottle jellyfish
Bodgy : of inferior quality
Bog in : commence eating, to attack food with enthusiasm
Bog standard : basic, unadorned, without accessories (a bog standard car, telephone etc.)
Bondi cigar : see "brown-eyed mullet"
Bonzer : great, ripper
Boogie board : a hybrid, half-sized surf board
Boomer : a large male kangaroo
Booze bus : police vehicle used for catching drunk drivers
Boozer : a pub
Bored shitless : very bored
Bottle shop : liquor shop
Bottle-o : liquor shop
Bottler : something excellent
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)
Brass razoo, he hasn't got a : he's very poor
Brekkie : breakfast
Brick shit house, built like a : big strong bloke
Brickie : bricklayer
Brisvegas : Brisbane, state capital of Queensland
Brizzie : Brisbane, state capital of Queensland
Brown-eyed mullet : a turd in the sea (where you're swimming!)
Brumby : a wild horse
Buck's night : stag party, male gathering the night before the wedding
Buckley's, Buckley's chance : no chance ("New Zealand stands Buckley's of beating Australia at football")
Bull bar : stout bar fixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against hitting kangaroos
Bundy : short for Bundaberg, Queensland, and the brand of rum that's made there
Bunyip : mythical outback creature
Bush : the hinterland, the Outback, anywhere that isn't in town
Bush oyster : nasal mucus
Bush telly : campfire
Bushie : someone who lives in the Bush
Bushranger : highwayman, outlaw
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
BYO : unlicensed restaurant where you have to Bring Your Own grog, also similar party or barbecue

 

C Cactus : dead, not functioning ("this bloody washing machine is cactus") Captain Cook : look (noun) ("let's have a Captain Cook") Cark it : to die, cease functioning Cat burying shit, as busy as a : busy Cat's piss, as mean as : mean, stingy, uncharitable Chewie : chewing gum Chokkie : chocolate Chook : a chicken Chrissie : Christmas Christmas : see Bourke Street Chuck a sickie : take the day off sick from work when you're perfectly healthy Chunder : vomit Clacker : anus (from Latin cloaca = sewer). Also the single orifice of monotremes (platypus and echidna) used both for reproduction and for the elimination of body wastes. Clayton's : fake, substitute Click : kilometre - "it's 10 clicks away" Clucky : feeling broody or maternal Cobber : friend Cockie : farmer. Also a cockatoo Cockroach : a person from New South Wales Coldie : a beer Come a gutser : make a bad mistake, have an accident 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, not within : figuratively a long way away, far off - England weren't within cooee of beating Australia at cricket Cook (noun) : One's wife Corroboree : an aboriginal dance festival Counter lunch : pub lunch Cozzie : swimming costume Crack a fat : get an erection Crack onto (someone) : to hit on someone, pursue someone romantically Cranky : in a bad mood, angry Cream (verb) : defeat by a large margin Crook : sick, or badly made Crow eater : a person from South Australia Cut lunch : sandwiches Cut lunch commando : army reservist Cut snake, mad as a : very angry   D Dag : a funny person, nerd, goof Daks : trousers Damper : bread made from flour and water Date : arse[hole] ("get off your fat date") Dead dingo's donger, as dry as a : dry Dead horse : Tomato sauce Deadset : true, the truth Dero : tramp, hobo, homeless person (from "derelict") Dickhead : see "whacker" Digger : a soldier Dill : an idiot Dingo's breakfast : a yawn, a leak and a good look round (i.e. no breakfast) Dinkum, fair dinkum : true, real, genuine ("I'm a dinkum Aussie"; "is he fair dinkum?") Dinky-di : the real thing, genuine Dipstick : a loser, idiot Dob (somebody) in : inform on somebody. Hence dobber, a tell-tale Docket : a bill, receipt Doco : documentary Dog : unattractive woman Dog's balls, stands out like : obvious Dog's eye : meat pie Dole bludger : somebody on social assistance when unjustified Donger : penis Doodle : penis Down Under : Australia and New Zealand Drink with the flies : to drink alone Drongo : a dope, stupid person Dropkick : see 'dipstick' Drum : information, tip-off ("I'll give you the drum") Duchess : sideboard Duffer, cattle : rustler Dummy, spit the : get very upset at something Dunny : outside lavatory Dunny budgie : blowfly Dunny rat, cunning as a : very cunning Durry : cigarette Dux : top of the class (n.); to be top of the class (v.) - "She duxed four of her subjects".

 

 

E Earbashing : nagging, non-stop chatter Ekka : the Brisbane Exhibition, an annual show Esky : large insulated food/drink container for picnics, barbecues etc. Exy : expensive   F Face, off one's : drunk ("He was off his face by 9pm") Fair dinkum : true, genuine Fair go : a chance ("give a bloke a fair go") Fair suck of the sav! : exclamation of wonder, awe, disbelief (see also "sav") Fairy floss : candy floss, cotton candy Feral (n.) : a hippie Figjam : "F*ck I'm good; just ask me". Nickname for people who have a high opinion of themselves. Fisho : fishmonger Flake : shark's flesh (sold in fish & chips shops) 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. Fly wire : gauze flyscreen covering a window or doorway. Footy : Australian Rules football 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 Frog in a sock, as cross as a : sounding angry - a person or your hard drive! Fruit loop : fool Full : drunk   G G'Day : hello! Galah : fool, named after the bird of the same name which flies south in the winter - a bloody silly thing to do in the Southern Hemisphere Garbo, garbologist : municipal garbage collector Give it a burl : try it, have a go Gobful, give a : to abuse, usually justifiably ("The neighbours were having a noisy party so I went and gave them a gobful") 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, as full as a : drunk. "Goog" is a variation of the northern English slangword "goggie" meaning an egg. Greenie : environmentalist Grinning like a shot fox : very happy, smugly satisfied Grog : liquor, beer ("bring your own grog, you bludger") Grouse (adj.) : great, terrific, very good Grundies : undies, underwear (from Reg Grundy, a television person) Gutful of piss : drunk, "he's got a gutful of piss" Gyno : gynaecologist

 

 

H Handle : beer glass with a handle Heaps : a lot, e.g. "thanks heaps", "(s)he earned heaps of money" etc. Holy dooley! : an exclamation of surprise = "Good heavens!", "My goodness!" "Good grief!" or similar Hoon : hooligan Hooroo : goodbye Hotel : often just a pub Hottie : hot water bottle   I Icy pole, ice block : popsicle, lollypop   J Jackaroo : a male station hand (a station is a big farm/grazing property) Jillaroo : a female station hand Joey : baby kangaroo Journo : journalist Jumbuck : sheep   K Kangaroos loose in the top paddock : Intellectually inadequate ("he's got kangaroos loose in the top paddock") Kelpie : Australian sheepdog originally bred from Scottish collie Kero : kerosene Kindie : kindergarten Knock : to criticise Knock back : refusal (noun), refuse (transitive verb) Knocker : somebody who criticises   L 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 Larrikin : a bloke who is always enjoying himself, harmless prankster Lend of, to have a : to take advantage of somebody's gullibility, to have someone on ("he's having a lend of you") Lippy : lipstick Liquid laugh : vomit Lizard drinking, flat out like a : flat out, busy Lob, lob in : drop in to see someone ("the rellies have lobbed") Lollies : sweets, candy 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 Loo : toilet Lucky Country, The : Australia, where else? Lunch, who opened their? : OK, who farted? Lurk : illegal or underhanded racket

 

 

M Maccas (pron. "mackers") : McDonald's (the hamburger place) Mallee bull, as fit as a : very fit and strong. The Mallee is very arid beef country in Victoria/South Australia. Manchester : Household linen, eg sheets etc. Mappa Tassie : map of Tasmania - a woman's pubic area Mate : buddy, friend Mate's rate, mate's discount : cheaper than usual for a "friend" Matilda : swagman's bedding, sleeping roll Metho : methylated spirits Mexican : a person from south of the (Queensland) border Mickey Mouse : excellent, very good. Beware though - in some parts of Australia it means inconsequential, frivolous or not very good! Middy : 285 ml beer glass in New South Wales Milk bar : corner shop that sells takeaway food Milko : milkman Mob : group of people, not necessarily troublesome Mob : family or herd (?) of kangaroos Mongrel : despicable person Moolah : money Mozzie : mosquito Muddy : mud crab (a great delicacy) Mug : friendly insult ("have a go, yer mug"), gullible person Mull : grass (the kind you smoke) Muster : round up sheep or cattle   N Nasho : National Service (compulsory military service) Naughty, have a : have sex Never Never : the Outback, centre of Australia Nipper : young surf lifesaver No drama : same as 'no worries' No worries! : Expression of forgiveness or reassurance (No problem; forget about it; I can do it; Yes, I'll do it) No-hoper : somebody who'll never do well Not the full quid : not bright intellectually Nuddy, in the : naked Nun's nasty, as dry as a : dry   O O.S. : overseas ("he's gone O.S.") Ocker : an unsophisticated person Offsider : an assistant, helper Oldies : parents - "I'll have to ask my oldies" Outback : interior of Australia Oz : Australia!   P Paddock : see 'long paddock' Pash : a long passionate kiss; hence "pashing on" Pav : Pavlova - a rich, creamy Australian dessert Perve (noun & verb) : looking lustfully at the opposite sex Piece of piss : easy task Pig's arse! : I don't agree with you Piker : Someone who doesn't want to fit in with others socially, leaves parties early Pint : large glass of beer (esp. in South Australia) Piss : beer. Hence "hit the piss", "sink some piss" Plate, bring a : Instruction on party or BBQ invitation to bring your own food. It doesn't mean they're short of crockery! Plonk : cheap wine Pokies : poker machines, fruit machines, gambling slot machines Polly : politician Pom, pommy : an Englishman Pommy bastard : an Englishman Pommy shower : using deodorant instead of taking a shower Pommy's towel, as dry as a : very dry - based on the canard that Poms bathe about once a month Port : suitcase (portmanteau) Postie : postman, mailman Pot : 285 ml beer glass in Queensland and Victoria Pozzy : position - get a good pozzy at the football stadium Prezzy : present, gift

 

 

Q 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]   R Rack off : push off! get lost! get out of here! also "rack off hairy legs!". Rage : party Rage on : to continue partying - "we raged on until 3am" Rapt : pleased, delighted Ratbag : mild insult Raw prawn, to come the : to bullshit, to be generally disagreeable Reckon! : you bet! Absolutely! Reffo : refugee Rego : vehicle registration Rellie : family relative Ridgy-didge : original, genuine Right : okay ("she'll be right, mate") Rip snorter : great, fantastic - "it was a rip snorter of a party" Ripper : great, fantastic - "it was a ripper party" Ripper, you little! : Exclamation of delight or as a reaction to good news Road train : big truck with many trailers Rock up : to turn up, to arrive - "we rocked up at their house at 8pm" Rollie : a cigarette that you roll yourself Roo : kangaroo Root (verb and noun) : synonym for f*ck in nearly all its senses: "I feel rooted"; "this washing machine is rooted"; "(s)he's a good root". A very useful word in fairly polite company. Ropeable : very angry Rort (verb or noun) : Cheating, fiddling, defrauding (expenses, the system etc.). Usually used of politicians Rotten : drunk - "I went out last night and got rotten" Rubbish (verb) : to criticize   S Salute, Aussie : brushing flies away Salvos, the : Salvation Army, bless them Sandgroper : a person from Western Australia Sanger : a sandwich Sav : saveloy (see also "fair suck of the sav!") Schooner : large beer glass in Queensland; medium beer glass in South Australia Scratchy : instant lottery ticket Screamer : party lover; "two pot screamer" - somebody who gets drunk on very little alcohol Seppo : an American Servo : petrol station Shark biscuit : somebody new to surfing She'll be right : it'll turn out okay Sheila : a woman Shonky : dubious, underhanded. E.g. a shonky practice, shonky business etc. Shoot through : to leave Shout : turn to buy - a round of drinks usually ("it's your shout") Show pony : someone who tries hard, by his dress or behaviour, to impress those around him. Sickie : day off sick from work (chuck a sickie = take the day off sick from work when you're perfectly healthy!) Skite : boast, brag Skull/Skol (a beer) : to drink a beer in a single draught without taking a breath Slab : a carton of 24 bottles or cans of beer Sleepout : house verandah converted to a bedroom Smoko : smoke or coffee break Snag : a sausage Sook : person or animal who is soft, tame, inoffensive. Hence sooky (adj.) Spag bol : spaghetti bolognese Spewin' : very angry Spiffy, pretty spiffy : great, excellent Spit the dummy : get very upset at something Spruiker : man who stands outside a nightclub or restaurant trying to persuade people to enter Sprung : caught doing something wrong Spunk : a good looking person (of either sex) Squizz (noun) : look - "take a squizz at this" Standover man : a large man, usually gang-related, who threatens people with physical violence in order to have his wishes carried out. Station : a big farm/grazing property Stickybeak : nosy person Stoked : very pleased Strewth : exclamation, mild oath ("Strewth, that Chris is a bonzer bloke") Strides : trousers Strine : Australian slang and pronunciation Stubby : a 375ml. beer bottle Stubby holder : polystyrene insulated holder for a stubby Stuffed, I feel : I'm tired Stuffed, I'll be : expression of surprise Sunbake : sunbathe Sunnies : sunglasses Surfies : people who go surfing - usually more often than they go to work! Swag : rolled up bedding etc. carried by a swagman Swaggie : swagman Swagman : tramp, hobo

 

 

T Tall poppies : successful people Tall poppy syndrome : the tendency to criticize successful people Tallie : 750ml bottle of beer Taswegian : a person from Tasmania Technicolor yawn : vomit Tee-up : to set up (an appointment) Thingo : Wadjamacallit, thingummy, whatsit Thongs : cheap rubber backless sandals Tickets, to have on oneself : to have a high opinion of oneself Tinny : can of beer Tinny : lucky Tinny : small aluminium boat Togs : swim suit Too right! : definitely! Top End : far north of Australia Trackie daks/dacks : tracksuit pants Trackies : track suit Troppo, gone : to have escaped to a state of tropical madness; to have lost the veneer of civilisation after spending too long in the tropics. Trough lolly : the solid piece of perfumed disinfectant in a men's urinal Truckie : truck driver True blue : patriotic Tucker : food Tucker-bag : food bag Turps : turpentine, alcoholic drink Turps, hit the : go on a drinking binge Two up : gambling game played by spinning two coins simultaneously   U Uni : university Unit : flat, apartment 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" Useful as an ashtray on a motorbike / tits on a bull : unhelpful or incompetent person or thing - "he, she or it is about as useful as tits on a bull" etc. etc. Ute : utility vehicle, pickup truck   V Vegies : vegetables Vee dub : Volkswagen Veg out : relax in front of the TV (like a vegetable) Vejjo : vegetarian Vinnie's : St. Vincent De Paul's (charity thrift stores and hostels)   W Waggin' school : playing truant Walkabout : a walk in the Outback by Aborigines that lasts for an indefinite amount of time Walkabout, it's gone : it's lost, can't be found Whacker, whacka : Idiot; somebody who talks drivel; somebody with whom you have little patience; a dickhead Whinge : complain 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 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) Woop Woop : invented name for any small unimportant town - "he lives in Woop Woop" Wowser : straight-laced person, prude, puritan, spoilsport Wuss : coward; nervous person or animal   X XXXX : pronounced Four X, brand of beer made in Queensland   Y Yabber : talk (a lot) Yakka : work (noun) Yewy : u-turn in traffic ("chuck a yewy at the next traffic lights") Yobbo : an uncouth person Youse : you (plural)   Z Zack : sixpence (5 cents) - "it isn't worth a zack", "he hasn't got a zack"