(this is yelled out to encourage them a bit)
Avos: avocados (a type of fruit)
Awning over the toy shop: male beer belly
Ay?: didn't hear what was said, or "pardon
me"
B
Back of Beyond : far out bush as you can
get, right out in the outback of Australia
Back of Bourke : the middle of nowhere
your old Bag, the old Bag: a term for a
woman, usually the wife or the mother-in-law
Bagged someone : critised or put someone
down
Bags : claim, assert your right to something.
e.g. "I bags the next go." means that you are claiming the
next turn
Bail out : you leave, move on or abandon
Bail up : hold up OR rob OR earbash
Balls up : a mess, terrible mistake, everything
has gone wrong
Barbie: barbecue, BBQ, e.g."I'll throw
some shrimp on the barbie". (We actually don't call them
"shrimp". They are prawns in OZ).
Banana bender: a person from Queensland
Bang on: it's hit the target right in the
middle, OR it's right, or correct
Banged up: pregnant
over with the Bar flies : over talking
to the old men who drink and talk in the front bar of a
pub from when it opens to when it closes
Barney : fight or scuffle OR argument or
tiff
Barrack: to cheer or encourage your team
playing sport (football team etc.)
give it a Bash: you will try something
you are not sure of (have a go)
Basket case: someone close to mental illness
Bastard: can be a term of endearment eg.
"How are ya going ya old bastard?"
Bathers : swimming costume, swimmers, togs
old Battle-Axe : wife OR mother-in-law
Battler : someone who works hard to earn
a living by honest means
Beating around the bush : not getting to
the point when explaining something
Beaut, beauty: great, fantastic, terrific,
something that went real well, (you little beauty!)
Belt up! : shut-up, stop talking ,be quite,
(in an angry way)
Berko : angry or upset (in an unreasonable
way)
Better half: your wife or husband or partner
going to have a Bex : you are going to
settle yourself down from some sort of stress (figuratively
not taking a Bex which is a drug) but usually a cup a tea,
a cry and a good rest
Big note yourself : to skite, that is to
say you are better or more important than you really are
Billabong: an ox-bow river or watering
hole
Billy: large tin can used to boil water
over a campfire for tea, "put the billy on",
Billy cart : a go-kart for kids (children)
past the Black stump : way out in the bush
(the same as "back of beyond")
Block : your head, eg. "I'll knock your
block off if you do that again!"
do your Block : you are angry or lose your
temper
go to the Block : go to your vacant piece
of land
Blow through : leave town in a hurry
Blowies : blow flies
Bloke : male, man, guy
Bloody : very (e.g. bloody hard yakka)
Bloody oath!: that's certainly true, too
right
Blowing your dough: spending all your money
Bludge : to be lazy, to do nothing at all
Bludger : lazy person, layabout, somebody
who always relies on other people to do things or lend him
things
Blue : fight or argument ("he was having
a blue with his wife")
true Blue : something that is genuine Australian
Bluey: Nick-name for a red-headed bloke
OR pack, equipment OR traffic ticket
Blue Heeler : policeman/policewoman OR
Queensland cattle dog
Bob's your uncle : Hey presto, what you
say when things suddenly fall into place
Bolted : left very quickly (often from
the scene of a misdemeanor or accident
Bone to pick : you have to talk with someone
who has done something you disagree with, have it out with
them
Bonzer mate! : that's great friend, ripper
Boogie board : a body board, half-sized
surf board
Boomer : a large male kangaroo, Australian
basket-baller
Booze : alcohol, grog
Boozer : pub or hotel OR a person who is
a heavy drinker
Booze bus : Police van used for random
breath testing for drink drivers
Bottle shop : liquor shop, grog shop
Bottoms up : drink the whole glass all
at once (usually beer)
you're a Bow wow : you are really ugly,
(a dog)
Brass : money, "have you got any brass
on ya?", (have you got any money?)
Brass razoo : no money ("I haven't got
a brass razoo")
Breaky : breakfast, first meal of the day
Breadbasket : stomach or tummy
mow the Brigalo suckers : shave the beard
Broken packet of biscuits : someone whose
life looks OK on the outside, but is a mess on the inside
Brown dog - "kick a Brown dog" : you are
frustrated and going to get your tension out (you don't
literally kick a dog)
Brown-eye : to show ones bottom or bum
while parting the cheeks, (similar to mooning)
Brown-nose : suck-up, give favours
Buckley's, Buckley's chance, Buckley's & none:
no chance ("New Zealand stands Buckley's of beating Australia
at football")
Bug : (Moreton Bay Bug) small crab
Bugalugs : a friendly endearment
Bugger all : doing absolutely nothing
Buggered : broken, had it
Bull dust : a lie or a tall story
Bullamakanka : imaginary place in the far
outback, as far as you can go in the bush
Built like a brick shit house : you are
saying someone is very strong or big, well built (outside
toilets are usually made of wood)
Bummer : you're disappointed, "what a bummer!"
Bung : to put (bung another snag on the
barbie mate!)
Bunyip : mythical creature from the outback
give it a Burl : give something a try,
that you haven't done before
Bush : the Outback, anywhere that isn't
in town
Bush-bash : go off road in a vehicle, forcing
your way through bush without roads
Bush telegraph : the town gossip network
what is this? Bush week? : How they respond
when you tell someone something that is unlikely or untrue
Butcher : a 285 ml beer in South Australia
give it a "Butchers" : short for "butchers
hook" it means you will look into it ("look" rhymes with
"butcher's hook")
B.Y.O. : unlicensed restaurant where you
have to Bring Your
Own grog (alcohol), also applies to
a party or barbecue
C
something's Cactus : It has died, "it's
had it"
Cakehole : your mouth
Camp oven : Large cast iron pot with a
lid, for cooking or baking on an open fire
Cane-toad : A Queensland Rugby League player,
supporter or fan
Can : outdoor toilet, also called a thunder-box
(has no sewage connection- a metal can is used instead and
emptied once or twice a week)
Can it : tell someone to stop it or shut
up
Carked it (someone): they've died
Carpetbagger steak : beef steak stuffed
with oysters
Chalky : teacher
Cheerio : saying goodbye
Chew the fat : have a good talk or discussion
together
Chicken: a person who won't stand up for
themselves
Chin-wag : having a good chat
Chippie : carpenter
Chock a block or Chocker's : filled right
up or crowded to over flowing
Choof off : You go now
Chook : a chicken, hen, rooster
may your Chooks turn into emus and kick your shithouse
down : statement you can make when, you're not
very happy with what someone has done or said to you
Chuck : throw something OR vomit, throw
up, spew
Chunder : vomit, spew
Civi street : in town, (I'm going into
town.)
Clanger : a real big lie, fib OR a shock
Claytons : something of questionable integrity,
a fake which resembles the real thing (the opposite of Fair
Dinkum) this term is derived from a non-alcoholic drink
called "Claytons"
Clobber : Clothes
Clod hoppers : your feet or shoes (usually
big)
Cobber : friend, mate
Cock and bull : something is a lie, codswallop,
(cock and bull story),(someone said a load of crap or load
of rubbish)
Cock up : its gone all wrong
Cockroach : someone who lives in the state
of New South Wales
Cockie : farmer, OR cockroach
Codswallop : a lot of nonsense or a lie
haven't any Coin : you have no money
get them to Come across : try to get someone
over to your way of thinking
Come a gutser : make a big mistake, have
an accident
Compo : Compensation (Worker's Compensation/Work
Cover/Work Care.)
Cooee : a call for greeting someone at
a distance in the bush
Cop it sweet : take the punishment, get
what's coming to you, without trying to retaliate
Corroboree : native aboriginal ritual dance
you'll be waiting till the Cows come home :
you'll be waiting all day
Cow-tow : bow and scrape to someone, suck
up
Cozzy : swimming costume, togs, bathers
Crack a tinnie : open a can of beer
Crack onto : to make a pass at or chat
up the opposite sex
what a load of Crap : (someone is talking
rubbish) a lie, codswallop
stop the Crap! : stop what you are doing
or saying as it's not true
off to the Crapper : go to the toilet or
bathroom
Crawl : give favours to, "suck-up" to
Creamed : beaten someone else or team by
a huge margin, flogged
Crikey! : an exclamation of surprise at
something
Cripes! : exclamation of shock or surprise
Crook : ill, sick, OR badly made, something
that doesn't work, OR villain
Croweater : someone who lives in the state
of South Australia, (that states' outback has many crows)
Cruddy : something of poor quality or badly
made
Cunning as a shithouse rat : someone who
is very cunning and under handed
Cuppa : cup of tea or coffee
Curly : sarcastic term for a bald person
give someone a bit of Curry : give someone
a hard time, (Teenagers give this to their parents)
Cut lunch : sandwiches
D
D1 : shovel, (an unflattering reference
to Caterpillar terminology)
Dag : an uncool person, a funny person,
nerd, goof, loser OR a friendly endearment (the trick is
knowing which one they mean, check to see if they a smiling)
OR to describe unfashionable way of dressing
Daks : trousers, pants, shorts
Damp squib : someone who is not thinking
too well, a bit of a dud (a squib is a small firecracker,
a damp squib is one that doesn't go off) someone who's not
firing too well
Damper : plain-flour bread, traditionally
cooked in the coals of a camp fire
got the Darling pea :behaving strangely,
OR insane (it's a plant that causes some strange behavior
in animals that eat it)
Dead horse : tomato sauce
Dead marine or Dead sailor : empty beer
bottle or stubbie
Deadset? : Is that so?, true?
your Dial : your face
Dick : mans penis, see old Fella
Didgeridoo : Aboriginal wind musical instrument
going to your Dig : going to your home
or the place where you live(a left-over from gold mining
days)
Digger : Australian soldier
Dill : an idiot, someone who is not very
intelligent
Dilly-bag : food bag OR small bag to carry
things
you are a Dingo : you are a cunning bad
person
Dinkum, fair dinkum : true, real, genuine
("Kwik Kerb is a dinkum Aussie business"; "is he fair dinkum?")
Dinky-di : the real thing, genuine OR originating
from Australia
see you in a Divvy : see you in a very
short time
Divvy van : Police divisional van
Dobber : someone who tells on you or dobs
you in
Docket : a bill, receipt
Do-dar : some thing or item you've forgotten
the name of, is a do-dar
Dodgy : something suspicious or possibly
illegal
Dog : an ugly women, (not a term of endearment)
Dog and bone : telephone
Dole bludger : Someone on welfare assistance
or unemployment benefit who is not really eligible for it
Done deal : something finished or completed
Donger : a mans penis
Donk : engine of a car, boat or motor bike
haven't seen you in Donkey's years : you
haven't seen someone in a very long time
Dork : fool or idiot
Dough : money, cash in pocket
Dover : a bush knife
Drink with the flies : to drink alone
a Drip : someone with no personality, no
character, boring
Drongo : a dope, stupid person
Drop of the perch : glass of beer
Drop off the perch : Drop dead, Die (as
a bird might)
Dropped your bundle : lost your temper
,finding it hard to cope with things
Dropped your guts : farted, fluffed, broken
wind
Drover : stockman
Drover's dog : no good, useless, of no
importance
Drum : information, tip-off ("I'll give
you the drum")
Dry as a dead dingo's donger : descriptive
of drought OR very dry climate (who-ever started this saying
must have been a little weird)
Ducks nuts : Perfect or just right
Dud-dropper : one who sells cheap stuff
as if it were good quality, implying that it's cheap because
it "fell off the back of a truck".(stolen)
up the Duff : pregnant
Dunlop cheque : cheque that bounced, rubber
cheque, (the bank did not accept it and it was returned
to you)
Dunny : lavatory, toilet, loo
Dunny budgie : a fly
noisy as a Dunny door in a storm : something
or someone making a continuous annoying noise
Durry: cigarette, fag,
E
Earbashing : nagging, non-stop chatter
I could Eat a horse, and chase the jockey :you
are very very hungry
Egg-head : idiot, dill, nerd, dag, etc.
Elbow grease : hard work (digging etc)
eg. "You'll need a bit of elbow grease to get that done".
Esky : large insulated box which you put
ice bricks in, to keep food and drink cold eg.(beer). Also
see tucker-box
F
Face fungus : man's beard, hair on the
face
Fag : cigarette, durry
Fair crack of the whip : said when someone
has done or said something wrong or a tall story, or is
going to. (to let them know that you know its not true)
Fair dinkum:
true, real, genuine eg:("Kwik Kerb is a fair dinkum Aussie
business" or "Is he fair dinkum?")
Fair enough : OK, you're right, agreement
about something
Fair go: a chance ("give a bloke a fair
go")
Fair suck of the sav : giving someone an
equal chance (sav is a saveloy, a type of sausage)
Fanny : females private part
Fart-arse around :you're not getting on
with the task at hand, and doing other things instead
Fat chance : something has little or no
chance of happening
Fella : person or a male (white-fella or
black-fella shouldn't to be used as it's racist, I've never
heard it used this way to be racist, but some people could
be offended)
old Fella : mans penis, dick
Fib : lie
Fibber : someone who tell lies
like a Fish on a hook : you are really
caught on something OR caught by something OR into something
Five finger discount : stolen, an article
obtained by shoplifting
Flake : Shark meat, used extensively in
Fish and Chip shops in Oz
Flaked out : asleep, usually from drinking
too much alcohol
Flaming thing or Flaming good : extra bad
or extra good
Flash as a rat with a gold tooth : scrubbed
up, dressed and groomed nicely
Flat chat or Flat out : going as fast as
you can
go to the Flicks : go to the movies, cinema
give it the Flick : throw it away
Floater : meat pie floating in thick pea
soup (South Australia)
Flogged : beat someone or team by a big
margin
Forty winks : short sleep, (often during
the day)
Footbrawl : northerners irreverent term
for Aussie Rules Football, also called "aerial ping-pong"
Footy : Australian Rules football, Rugby
League, Super League (depending on which state you are in.)
Fossicking : searching, rummaging (eg.
"fossicking through the kitchen drawers.")
Fred nerk : someone make-believe or imaginary
Front someone : face up to someone whom
you disagree with or "have a bone to pick with".
Fruit cake : mentally unstable person,
(not the full quid)
Full : drunk, intoxicated
Full as a boot : very drunk, leg-less
Full feather : very good health
Funny farm : mental institution
G
Galah :loud, rudely behaved person, fool,
(named after the bird which flies south in the winter -
a silly thing to do in the Southern Hemisphere)
Ga darn or G'darn : surprise at something
Ga day or G 'day : a friendly welcome (same
as hello or hi)
Game : brave, (if you have a go at something
others think or find difficult, they say you're game)
what's your Game : what are you up to,
(something going on that is fishy)
Gammy : sore, eg: I have a gammy leg (a
leg not working properly, its damaged)
have a Gander : have a look
Garbo, garbologist: municipal garbage collector,
dustman
Gasbag : a person who talks a lot, earbasher
Gibber : a large rock
Give it away : give up on something, stop,
quit
Give it a burl : try it, have a go
I need to Go! : I want to go to the toilet
Goer : "It's a goer."(something that will
now occur, that you have been trying to make happen)
Gone round the bend : gone crazy or mental,
whacko, fruitcake
Good as Gold! : something is great
Good-oh : okay, alright
Good oil : useful information, a good idea,
the truth
Good on you : good for you, well done
Good on ya mate! : you are happy with what
someone is doing
Goog : an egg OR (he has a big goog on
his head) he has a bump on his head as big as an egg
full as a Goog : very drunk
Grazier : sheep or cattle farmer (natural
grass without pasture)
Grease-monkey : motor mechanic
Grizzle : complain, whinge
Grog : alcohol, liquor, beer ("bring your
own grog, you bludger")
Grot : a very dirty or untidy person
Grouse : something is great, terrific
Grub : slovenly eater, or dirty child OR
some-one wearing very dirty clothes
Grub : food (go eat some grub.)
Guffing off : someone who is lazy
down the Gurgler : down the plug hole,
something has failed, all is lost
Gutser : to fall over and hurt yourself
(come a gutser)
Gympy leg : sore leg, a leg not working
properly, its damaged
H
Haggle : bargain, (talk the price down)
Hair of the dog : a drink of alcohol the
morning after you've been drunk, (while you still have a
hang-over)
put Hairs on ya chest : something done
which is brave, or very manly OR if you eat or drink this
you will become a man or manly
Hang out : spending time out doing little,
usually with friends
Happy as larry : you are over-joyed
Hardcase : someone one-eyed or with a closed
mind, but they might not think so
Hit the hay OR Hit the sack : go to bed
to sleep
Hit your kick : open your wallet and spend
some of your money
Holy-dooly : an expression of surprise
Hoon : hooligan, a show-off, often in a
noisy car
Hotel : often just a pub (without accomodation)
Howzat? : asking someone how something
is OR appealing to the umpire for an 'out' in a cricket
match
Humping :carrying something heavy usually
on your shoulder OR having sex
Humpy : bush dwelling of cheap construction
I
Icy pole : popsicle, frozen ice-pop, (lemonade
ones are great for hang-overs)
Idiot box : television set
Iffy : "something is bit iffy", its risky
or suspect
Illywhacker : a stick for smacking a child
with, (not allowed anymore)
Irrits : "you give me the irrits", you're
extremely irritating
Ivories : your teeth OR "to tickle the
ivories" is to play the piano
J
I'll fix your Jack and Jill : I will pay
your bill, (usually in a restaurant)
Jackaroo : a male ranch hand OR Holden
4 wheel drive recreational vehicle
Jaked : broken, buggered
Jerry : a pot under the bed (if you need
to go in the middle of the night)
Jibber : talk a lot, usually about nothing
important
Jiffy : a short time, "I'll see you in
a jiffy"
Jigged : broken or no longer usefull
Jillaroo : a female ranch hand
by Jingos! : exclamation of wonder, eg.(wow!)
I will Job you! : I will hit you or punch
you
Jocks : male underpants, underdaks, undies
Joe blo : anyone you don't know (someone
you do not know the name of)
Joey : baby kangaroo
John : toilet
John Doe : imaginary person
Journo : journalist
Jumbuck : sheep
Jumper : usually a woollen sweater or pullover
Just down the road : someone says this
when you ask for directions, (ask for more details because
this could be 100 meters to a 1000 kilometers away)
K
Kafuffle : argument or disturbance
Kangaroos loose in the top paddock : a
little crazy, mentally unstable
Keen as mustard : very enthusiastic about
something
Kick the bucket : die, pass away, cark
it
Kid : young child OR Joke, eg. "kid around"
you're Kidding? : "thats not true, is it?"
Kip : short rest or sleep or nap
Kit : all your belongings or your possessions
OR all your tools in a bag
Kiwi : someone who lives in New Zealand
(New Zealander)
Knackers : male testicles
Knock: to criticise
Knocker: one who criticises
Knock something : criticise it or criticise
the idea
Knock shop : a house of prostitution, brothel
Knocked back : rejected your advances or
didn't want to have sex with you
Knocked up : pregnant
Knocked off work : Finished for the day,
("knock off time" is time to go home from work)
get Knotted! : is an angry way to say "no",
get lost
you Know! : mostly used by people who do
not know what they are talking about, and hope you do (a
habit phrase some Aussies use on the end of a sentence)
L
Lady blamey : a beer glass made from the
bottom half of a beer bottle
Lady muck : a woman who puts on airs and
graces, usually badly, (stuck up)
Lag : inform, dob in
Lame-brained : someone that is stupid
Lamingtons : small sponge cakes coated
in chocolate and grated coconut
Lashing out : going on a spending spree
Laughing gear : your mouth
Lav or Lavvy : outdoor toilet, thunderbox
Leading you up the garden path : someone
is deceiving or tricking you and you are not aware of it
Leg-less : very drunk, pissed
get a Leg up : Getting help to climb over
something, or to climb up
Lemon : something that is faulty OR broken
OR bad OR useless (that you are stuck with)OR a lesbian
Lights on but there's no one home : someone
not very smart
Lippie : lipstick
Liquid amber : Beer, ale
use your Loaf : use your head, think about
what you're doing
Lob, lob in : drop in to see someone unannounced
eg.("the rellies have lobbed in")
Lollies : sweets
Lolly : money OR your head
do your Lolly : shouting and raving in
an angry way,(losing you head)
hit your Lolly : hit your head
Lollywater : soft drink
Long as a month of sundays : a very long
time (28 - 31 weeks)
how Long is a piece of string? : this statement
is made when someone asks you a question that doesn't have
an easy answer eg. "How long will this take?" and you can't
guess how long
Long-neck : large beer bottle
Loo : toilet, lavatory, mens room, dunny
Lucky Country, The: Australia, of course
on a good Lurk : on to a good thing OR
job with very good conditions and pay.
ga day Luv : substitute for the womans
name, saying hello in a friendly way
M
Mad as a cut snake : a wild person who
does many crazy things
Manchester : household linen
Mate : buddy, friend, pal
Matilda: your sleeping bag or bed roll
for camping out
Mexican : a person from across the border
Middie : 285 ml beer glass in New South
Wales
Milk bar : a small shop that sells all
sorts of takeaways (mainly food and drinks eg. milkshakes)
Missus : your wife
Mob : group of people or things or sheep
Mollydooker : a left hander
Moosh : your mouth
More of them than you can poke a stick at :
a lot of them, too many to count
Mozzies : mosquitoes
Mucking around : playing around in a way
that annoys others
Mud : wet concrete for laying bricks etc.
Mug : your face, you dial
gone up the Mulga : gone bush, gone to
the country not touched by man
you look like a stunned Mullet : dazed
OR your mind is off thinking about something else
things are crook in Mussellbrook : times
are bad
Mystery bag : sausage (you never know what
the butcher put in it)
N
Nacked : annoyed
Nackered : absolutely exhausted or very
tired
Nana : banana
Narkie : short tempered
Neddie : a horse
Never Never: the Outback, centre of Australia,
usually off the beaten track,
Nickers : womans underpants, briefs
Nick off : go now, get lost
you're in the Nick : you're naked
you've got a good Nick : you've got a good
name
Nockers : women's breasts
No-hoper : somebody who'll never do well
as they have no ambition
Not the full quid : mentally unstable,
not bright intellectually
you're in the Nuddy : you are naked or
nude
Nulla-nulla : wooden club used by Aborigines
(made from very heavy and hard wood called Blackbutt)
O
Ocker : an unsophisticated person, Aussie
that likes beer, sport and women and is generally un-cultured
Offsider : an assistant, helper
Off like a brides nightie : you're leaving
now or very quickly
Off like a bucket of prawns in the sun :
you're leaving now or very quickly
Off like a piece of cheeze : you're leaving
now or very quickly
Off the beaten Track: on a road not used
very much, or no road at all or in a remote part of Australia
Oldies : parents
Once over : giving something the look over
or checking it out
One armed bandit : poker machine (many
machines now only have buttons)
On ya mate : well done there, mate
Ooroo : goodbye, "See ya later"
O.S. : overseas ("he's gone O.S.")
Outback : remote part of Australia away
from towns and civilisation
bun in the Oven : pregnant, knocked up
Ow-yar-goin mate? : how are you going?
Oy! : an Aussie bush call
Oz: Australia!
Ozzie: Australian!
P
Pally : on friendly terms with someone
Paraletic: extremely drunk, (falling down,
leg-less, can't even stand up)
Pash or pash off : kiss passionately
Paw-paw : Queensland papaya fruit (tropical)
Payed out : Made fun of, e.g. You "pay
out" on someone if you play a practical joke on them.
Pearl : excellent, great
Perk at work : something good your employer
supplies for nothing as a part of your job (and usually
the taxman wants a part of it too)
Pester : annoy or bother someone
Plonk : real cheap alcohol or cheap wine
Piffle : nonsense
Pigs bum : you say this when someone says
something that's wrong, or incorrect
Piker : someone who does not want to do,
what the rest of the group want to do
Pinch : to arrest
Piss in your pocket : give favour to, crawl,
"suck up to", "scratch your back."
Pissed as a parrot : very drunk, Leg-less
Pissed off : you are angry or unhappy with
something
doesn't know if it's Pitt street or christmas :
to be confused (a country bloke confused at all the lights
of Sydney's Pitt Street)
it Pivot's on : "it depends on", to consider
Poddy dodger : cattle rustler
Pom, pommy : an Englishman
Pommy bastard : NOT a term of endearment
you Pong : you smell or have an unpleasant
odour
Poo tickets : toilet paper
Poofter : uncomplimentary term for a gay
man, homosexual
talking on the Porcelain telephone : vomiting
into a toilet, (also driving the Porcelain bus)
Pork chop in a Jewish Synogogue : you feel
out of it, in what ever situation, you don't fit in
Postie : postman, mail delivery person
or mailman
Possie : advantageous position, in good
spot
Playing Possum : you are hiding yourself
or try to keep something from someone
Pot : 285 ml beer glass in Queensland &
Victoria OR marijhuana, dope(an illegal drug which is commonly
smoked, also known as Indian hemp)
Pot hole : hole in the road
Pot calling the kettle black : someone
said something adverse about you and you reply with this
slang phrase (which says that they are the same or worse
then their adverse statement about you)
Prang : automotive crash
Prawn : shrimp (that's right we don't put
a shrimp on the barbie, that's just advertising to con you
to come here. No Aussie except Hogan has ever said it)
Raw Prawn : easy to deceive, green
Prezzies : gifts
Pub : hotel, place for buying and drinking
alcohol
Pull the belt in : stop spending money
Pull your head in mate : tell them to mind
their own business
Pull your socks up : get you life in order
OR get your act together
Pushing up daisies : dead and buried, in
your grave
Pussy : domestic cat OR a females private
part
Put up or shut up : show you can do it
or say it, otherwise stop talking about it
Put the cows out on the long Paddock :
putting cows out on the road or highway to graze
Q
Quid : money
not the full Quid : someone who is mentally
unstable or whacko
Quack : doctor
not the full Quid : short on brains
R
Rack off : you are asked to leave, go now,
in an angry way, get lost
Rafferty's Rules : every thing is a mess
and mixed up, done all wrong, with no rules at all
Rag : newspaper OR a women who sleeps around
Raining cats'n'dogs : heavy storm & rain
Rapt : overjoyed
Ratbag : a sly, cunning and unethical person
Reckon! : you bet! Absolutely!
Reckon you are right : believe or think
you're right
Rellie : family relative
Ridgy-didge : original, genuine
Right : okay ("she'll be right, mate")
Righto : okay or that's right
Ringer : fast sheep shearer or station
hand (also old style washing machine.)
Ring-in : replacement for the real thing,
imposter
smells Ripe : smells off or bad
Ripped off : you've been cheated
Ripper : great, fantastic
Ripsnorter : something that's really great
Road train : multi-trailered semi truck
Roaring trade : you've been doing a lot
of business
Rolly : self-made cigarette using papers
(usually Tallyho) and tobacco
Roo : kangaroo
Root : sexual intercourse
Rooted : very tired
Ropable : very ill tempered or angry
RS : lousy (rat shit)
Rough end of the pineapple : you got a
bad deal
Rotten : drunk ("I went out last night
and got rotten")
Rubbish : to criticize
Rug up : dress warmly
you'd have to Run around in a the shower to get
wet : you are very thin
S
Sacked : fired from work or a job (relieved
of duties)
great australian Salute : the action of
using your hand to wave flies away from your face
Salvos : Salvation Army
Sandgroper : a person from Western Australia
(this state is very sandy)
Sanger or Sanga : Sandwich
Sausage short of a barbecue : short of
brains (a snag short of a barbie)
Scallops : battered and fried potato cakes
(Qld), a kind of shellfish elsewhere in Oz
School : group of drinkers, each of whom
buys a round
Schooner : large beer glass usually 425
ml in NSW, (in South Australia it refers to a 375ml glass)
Scone : your head
Scrubber : a person of poor standing who
maybe isn't very clean
you Scrub-up well : you have showered,
shaved and are well dressed with hair done nicely etc. where
you looked a bit grotty earlier
Scum, Scum-bag: undesirable person, (He's
the scum of the earth)
Seppo : American person
Shack : a cheap and simple dwelling or
house
Shark : salesman (usually used cars) OR
somebody who is trying to "rip you off"
Shark biscuit : somebody new to surfing
Sheila : a woman
Shellacking : a rout, complete defeat
She'll be right : "it'll be okay"
Shirty : upset, angry
Shivoo : noisy gathering or party
Shnoz : nose
Shonky : dodgy, unreliable, a very suspect
deal
Shoot through : to leave town in a hurry
Short and curlies : pubic hair, (when someone
states they've "got you by the short and curlies" you're
not in a favourable position)
Shout : a turn to buy a round of drinks,
usually alcohol eg. ("it's your shout") it's your turn to
buy a round, next shout will be someone elses in the group
Shove off! : go away, get lost, said in
an unpleasant way
Show you the ropes : show you how to do
a job
Sickie : paid day off sick from work (to
"chuck a sickie" is to take the day off sick from work when
you're perfectly healthy!)
Silly Season : Christmas time
Sit on a beer : take a long time to drink
a beer
cheap Skate : someone who won't spend money
or is a tight-arse
Skite : to boast or brag about ones personal
accomplishments
Slab : a carton of 24 bottles, stubbies
or cans of beer
going for a Slash : a man is going to urinate
Slippery-dip : childrens playground slide
Slog : hard work OR an undisciplined shot
a batsman makes playing cricket
Slow as a wet weekend : doing something
very slowly, when others want to get you moving at a faster
pace
Smoko : coffee or cigarette break at work
Snag : sausage (put some snags on the barbie)-
not shrimp
Snakey : snappy, cranky, or angry
I'll Sort it : you'll fix it, whatever
is wrong
see you in the Soup : see you around
call a Spade a Spade : telling something
as it is, not saying something is good if its not , or bad
if its actually good
Sparky : electrician
Spit the dummie : crack up, get very upset
or angry about something
good Sport : someone who is good about
losing and doesn't "spit the dummy"
up the Spout : pregnant, knocked up
you've been Sprung : you've been caught
doing something you shouldn't, busted
Spud : potato
Spunk : a good looking person (of either
sex)
Spunky : sexy looking
Square off : to apologise
Squatter : someone who lives on someone
else's land or house without permission or paying rent
Stick in the mud : a piker, someone who
won't allow you to do something
Stickybeak : someone who is always poking
their nose in other peoples business
Stinger : box jellyfish
Stone the crows! : exclamation of shock
at something
Strewth : exclamation of shock at something
Strides : trousers, daks
Strine: This page
is full of it, a lot of Aussie slang said at once. Australian
slang and pronunciation
Stroppy : in a bad mood, and being difficult
to get along with
Stubby : a small bottle of beer
Stubbies : small bottles of beer OR a pair
of mens shorts
I don't give a Stuff : you don't care about
something
Suck up to : brown-nose, give favours,
Sunbake : sunbathe
Surfies : people who go surfing, often
every day
Swag : canvas bag for all your belongings
and bedroll, to protect it from the weather when camping
out
Swagman : tramp, hobo, homeless person
in the outback who traditionally did odd-jobs for his tucker
you look pretty Swank : you're fitted out
well, dressed expensively
something looks Swank : something looks
expensive
no Sweat : not a problem, no worries
T
Ta : thankyou, thanks
Tall poppies : successful people, rich
people
Tallie : large bottle of beer, (750 ml)
Tallyho : goodbye, see you later, OR papers
for rolling a cigarette
Talk the leg off an iron pot : talk a lot,
ear-bash, talk endlessly without letting other people have
a go
Taswegian : a person from Tasmania, also
"apple-eater"
Tea : evening meal
Tee-up : to set up an appointment or arrange
something
Thing-a-ma-jig : term you use when you
can't actually remember the name of something
Thingo : something you don't know the name
of is a thingo
Thongs : very popular rubber backless sandals
Thugby : southerners non-endearing term
for Rugby League Football (usually because they don't understand
the game)
Thunder box : outdoor toilet OR can (has
no sewage connection- a can is used instead and emptied
once or twice a week)
hang on a Tick : wait for a short moment
got Tickets on himself : this person thinks
he is the greatest, highly self-opinionated
Tight arse : someone who doesn't want to
part with their money, tight-wad
Tight wad : someone who doesn't want to
part with their money
Tinny : can of beer, OR small aluminium
fishing boat
a couple of Tinnies short of a slab : someone
a bit simple minded, or mentally impaired
Togs : swim suit, swimming costume, bathers,
cozzy
Too right! : definitely!, sure, (you agree
with something just said)
Top-ender : someone who lives in the Northern
Terriory
make Tracks : move on, get going somewhere,
leave
Treadly : bicycle, push-bike
True blue : something that is real genuine
Australian
Tucker : food
Tucker-bag : bag for storing food
Tuckshop : Aussie school canteen or cafeteria
or eatery
Turn it up : stop what you're saying or
doing as it's wrong
going Twenty to the dozen : moving or doing
something very fast, going flat-out
Two-up : traditional Australian heads or
tails gambling game using two tossed coins
U
Uee or Uwe: doing a U turn while driving
(see "Yewy")
Underdaks or undies: underpants (usually
male)
Uni : University
Up the creek without a paddle : someone
who has got themselves in a spot of trouble, or has done
something wrong with no way of undoing it, in a quandary
Up the gumtree : someone that got themself
in a spot of trouble, in a quandary
got Up your nose: really upset you, irritated
and annoyed you
Up yourself : full of yourself, stuck-up
Ute : utility vehicle (in America it's
called a pickup)
V
Vegies : vegetables
Verbal diarrhoea : speaking utter nonsense
or drivel
W
Waffle : talking nonsense, drivel
Wag school : skip school, truancy
gone Walkabout : you've gone for a long
walk, (for an aboriginal it's a holiday away in the bush)
Walkover : easy task or someone deceived
easily
on the Wallaby track : to go from place
to place in search of work
Wally : a person who keeps making errors
Wanker : a male person who's unpopular
and fairly stupid but this person thinks he is the greatest
Waterhole : the hotel or pub or bar
Weatherboard house : a house built with
old-style over-lapping boards
Wedding tackle : man's penis
Went off the handle : reacted angrily to
something said
the Wet : rainy season in northern Australia
Whacko : gone crazy or mental, fruitcake
Wharfie : dockworker
What's that! : beg pardon, (you didn't
catch what someone was saying, and you want them to say
it again.)
Whinge : complain and carry on unnecessarily,
nag
Whip around : taking up a collection, eg.
collecting money for a gift for someone leaving
White pointers : females breasts when she
is nude sunbaking on the beach
Who-ha : someone making a fuss about something,
usually nothing important
Willy-willy or Whirly-wind : fairly small
dust twister, a spinning column of air usually picking up
grass and dust as it travels along (happens during Aussie
summers when it's hot)
Willy-nilly : unkempt, untidy, a mess
put the Wind up ya! : frighten someone
OR to intimidate
Wing-ding : party or get together OR can
mean an argument or blue
Wobbly : excitable behaviour ("I complained
about the food and mum threw a wobbly")
Woffle dust : imaginary luck, if you are
playing cards or dice and you're looking for a bit of luck,
say you'll put a little Woffle dust on it, (theres no such
thing and you don't actually put any dust on your cards
or dice, it's just slang for luck.)
Wog : flu or common cold
Wonky : something unstable, unsteady or
shaky
Woolly woofter : poofter, homosexual, gay
man (not complimentary)
Woomera : throwing stick used by Aborigines
to throw spears
Wowser : square, straight-laced person,
killjoy, prude, puritan, spoilsport, old fashioned
Written off : it's uneconomical to fix
the car after an accident (it's totalled)
X
XXXX : pronounced Four X, excellent brand
of beer made in Queensland
X it out : cross it out or erase something
Y
Ya : you
Yabber : chatter, talk a lot
Yabbie : freshwater Australian crayfish
Yahoo : loud-mouthed person who is usually
making a nuisance of himself
Yakka : work eg. hard Yakka
Yapping : talking non-stop, chatter-box
Yarn : a story that maybe true or it might
not be, (that's for you to work out)
Ya tellin me! :you say this when someone
has said something you agree with
see Yewse later : see you you all later,
goodbye
Yewy : u-turn in traffic ("chuck a yewy
at the next traffic lights")
Yobbo : an uncouth person, same as a yahoo
but has no values at all, looks like a slob always
Z
catch some ZZZ's : go for a sleep
Zonked : really really tired, worn out
Zebra crossing : broad striped white paint
lines across a road as a pedestrian crossing
This 