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87 Australian Slang Terms to Help You Speak Like a True Aussie
| May 14, 2020
“Barbie” is probably the cutest slang ever for “barbecue”, but wait ‘till you find out more, mate!
You don’t really know a language until you’ve learned its slang. And when it comes to English, many people agree that Australian slang is the richest, liveliest and funniest slang you could learn. Sure, there’s always British English, but the Brits don’t call their barbecue “barbie”. And that’s a missed opportunity. Wouldn’t you agree? How can you have just a plain, dull barbecue when you could have a “barbie”? The Aussie slang is the best slang.
As you probably know, “Aussie” is slang for “Australian”. Yeah, these people do have a slang term for everything. Now, whether you want to move to the Australian paradise, spend a holiday there to visit the Irwin family’s Australia Zoo, or just learn the Australian slang because you feel like spicing up your English vocabulary, there are a few things you need to remember:
- the term for Aussie slang and pronunciation is “strine”;
- Australian slang is often characterized by making words as short as possible, but also as cute and as funny as possible!
- if you want to sound like a true Aussie, you should speak through clenched teeth to stop blowflies from getting into your mouth. It sure sounds funny, but you know perfectly well that this is not entirely excluded while in Australia;
- you should avoid using the Australian slang in business or formal contexts because it could do more harm than good. Aussie slang is only for good friends and informal gatherings.
Ta, bogan, brekkie and more popular Australian slang terms you heard before
Let’s start with the basics: core Australian slang vocabulary. Here’s a list of popular Australian slang terms you probably heard before but didn’t know what they meant.
1. ta – thank you
You can also use “thanks heaps” when you are really grateful to someone for doing something for you or “cheers” to combine both “thank you” and “goodbye” in a single word. For example, “cheers” is a perfect choice for when you leave the shop after the barista gave the coffee.
2. sheila – woman or female
Derived from the Irish girls’ name Síle. It is now rarely used because it is considered derogatory.
3. bloke – man or guy
A stereotype of a typical Australian man: loves beer, sport and barbies.
It’s similar to “chap”or “fella”.
4. bogan – an uncultured or unsophisticated person
A “bogan” is an uncouth or unrefined person regarded as being of low social status. The term is usually pejorative, but it can also be regarded as a joke between friends.
5. brekkie – breakfast
Although it sounds like breakfast for kids, brekkie is the Australian meal everyone has in the morning.
So… what did you have for brekkie today?
6. barbie – barbecue
Well, I don’t mind if you call me a “barbie girl” now.
7. mate – friend
Oi, mate! This one’s a classic. You ought to use it.
8. crikey! – an exclamation of surprise
It’s similar to “blimey!”. Was made famous by Steve Irwin.
8. cake hole – mouth
There’s no better replacement for the word “mouth”. Why isn’t everybody using this?
9. ankle-biter – a small or young child
It can also refer to a small, aggressive dog like a chihuahua.
10. bonzer – great, awesome, first-rate
Sometimes spelled “bonza”.
11. arvo – afternoon
Or “s’arvo” which means “this afternoon”.
12. bottle-o – liquor shop
An abbreviation of “bottle shop”.
13. avo – avocado
Do you want some avo toast for brekkie?
14. bush telly – what you watch at night when you are camping
You heard “telly” before, but “bush telly”? That’s a new one. Basically, when you are camping you can’t watch traditional television, so you watch the “bush telly”: the campfire, the stars or just… the bush.
15. lippie – lipstick
Can this get any cuter?
16. bikkie – biscuit
You’ll ask for a “bikkie” just to hear yourself say it.
Additionally, there’s also the expression “to cost big bikkies” that means that something it’s very expensive.
17. sunnies – sunglasses
Share these words with your introvert friend and he might never stop talking.
18. mushie – mushroom
The barbie is ready! Bring the mushies.
19. defo – definitely
You’ll defo want to use this Aussie abbreviation.
20. cabbie – taxi driver
Call the cabbie! I’m moving to Australia right now.
21. roo – kangaroo
They had to have a dedicated slang term for kangaroos too, didn’t they? After all, the kangaroos are Australia’s most popular animals.
22. ace! – excellent, very good
Like this Australian slang list!
23. you beauty! – fantastic, great
Used to express joy or enthusiasm. Often used as “you beauty!”.
Australian slang words and phrases only Aussies know
Step into the realm of the unknown. This following list of Australian words and phrases contains some slang terms only true Aussies know! Use this Aussie slang in your day-to-day conversations and Aussie might think you’re one of their own.
- bathers – swimsuit
- brolly – umbrella
- coldie – beer
- in the nuddy – naked
- smoko – cigarette break
- thongs – flip-flops
- Chrissie – Christmas
- Aussie salute – brushing away flies with your hand
- bities – biting insects
- truckie – truck driver
- outback – the vast (usually arid) interior and rural part of Australia
- kindie – kindergarten
- Joey – baby kangaroo
- exy – expensive
- yakka – hard work
- oldies – parents
- servo – gas station
- daks – trousers or pants
- what’s the John Dory? – what’s going on?
- tucker – food
- u-ey (pronounced “u-ee”) – u-turn
- sky gator – airplane
- Bruce – an Australian bloke
- crikey mikey – snake
- bouncy mouse – kangaroo
- mozzie – mosquito
- pash – a passionate kiss
- sickie – sick day
- dag – a funny and likeable person
- billabong – a pond in a dry riverbend
- bloody – very
- devo – devastated
- fanny – vagina
- esky – portable cooler
- lappy – laptop
- lollies – sweets
- Maccas – McDonalds
- Straya – Australia
- tea – dinner
- ya – you
- bludger – a lazy person
- pressie – present
- footy – football
- snag – sausage
- woop woop – the middle of nowhere
- dog’s breakfast – complete chaos, mess
- mad as a cut snake – very angry
- dingo’s breakfast – no breakfast
- dinkum – unquestionably good or genuine
- furphy – erroneous or improbable story
- agro – aggressive
- she’ll be apples – it’ll be alright
- liquid laugh – vomit
- billy – teapot
- bizzo – business
- booze bus – police car used for catching drunk drivers
- cactus – beaten, dead, finished, not working
- chewie – chewing gum
- chokkie – chocolate
- g’day! – good day!
- polly – politician
- roadie – a beer you buy to take away with you
- sunbake – sunbathe
- tallie – 750ml bottle of beer
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Wata bloody rippa.
Great list Cobber.
I’d also make point of the below amendment/sadditions, some of these can be regional.
Cobber – Mate/Friend/Buddy/Pal
Strewth! – Can’t believe this wasn’t on the list (.see crikey!)
Smoko – any short work break that isn’t a lunch/meal break
bathers – swimsuit (No-one calls them bathers, They’re called “Cozzies”)
Joey – baby kangaroo (This isn’t slang, it’s what they’re called lol)
Undies – Underwear
Spud – Potato
‘Scarnon – Translation “What is going on?” – How are you?
How’s it goin’? – “how are you?”
“She’ll be right” – Don’t worry about it / no worries
chuck – vomit
longneck – 750ml bottle of beer
mongrel – derogatory, unfavourable person – usually betrays others
Plus a million more you’ll hear in a day hahaha.
G’Day Mate 👋
These are all great! Thank you for taking the time to upgrade our list 🧡
Actually, the comparatively endearing term “cobber” is most frequently reserved for your better friends; for your Best Friends…. 🙂
That’s good to know 🤔
@AussieAsMate, we could be best friends if you’d like that 👍
Something I heard in the “Crocodile Dundee 2” movie, that I haven’t been able to find:
“Shoot the dirpy bastard!”
What is “dirpy”?
Thanks!
A grateful Yank
}:-)
I am guessing ‘dirpy’ may be dopey?
Victorians call them bathers.
i never knew all of these
These lists are great. Diana, you did your homework. Good on ya darlin’ (I am kindly referring to you as being a good woman)
Oi, Aussie as Mate, mate.. you were doin’ (short for doing) well too I might add til’ (short for until) I read a bit bout’ (short for about..U get the idea, yeah) bathers. In my birth state they’re called; togs, swimmers & or cozies.
In my home state, we have always called them bathers & generalise it all as ‘swim gear’.
Cheers for that, you know us Aussies’ll (Australians will) generally pipe up with their two bobs worth if need be (good luck with that one shouldn’t be two hard if you’re keeping up with us but, hey my Ozzie ol’ mate?!🤣✌️
@Jim dirpy is just “dopey” in an Ozzie accent I.e. docile or a bit slow minded
Derpy bastard – similar to dopey bastard.. it’s an intensifier but can be used affectionately.
I often call my cat a derpy bastard especially when he does zoomies round the house into a door.
Jim… Think Dopey, foolish, stupid… that`s the meaning of Derpy.
Hes not the full quid. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I had a dingos breakfast, ( piss and a good look round). He’s got a roman nose (roaming all over his face ) . Hes lower than a sharks shithouse, ( that’s at the bottom of the sea). Shove that up against your dunny door, (derogatory term). He wouldn’t shout if a Shark bit him. ( won’t buy anyone a beer ). Tight as a fishes arsehole (watertight ) Dirt overcoat ( buried )
Popular as a pork chop in Jerusalem. Bluey ( mate with red hair ). Mudguard ( bald, shiny on top, crap underneath), (very derogatory). Billy Lid ( your hat or a child). Opium (nickname ,Slow working dope) Boozer, Pub, bloodhouse, ( Hotel) Walloper, Copper,
Fuzz, Boys in blue (Police ) Grouse (very good ) just a few for the collection, l avoided the rude ones, but some times they don’t ring true without the empathise of a particular word.
You must speak a different Aussie dialect (I’m sure they exist!). I hadn’t heard most of yours (whereas knew most of the ones from the article), but you got some good ones!
I’ve heard some of these. I grew up in Kensington, Melbourne, and I tell you what we’ve got some very interesting slang (and a very suburb-specific accent) that I haven’t heard anywhere else in the country thus far. Words like “Spitting” which means very light rain, “Tuppence” means nothing, nada. “Shit-hot” usually refers to a flog (there’s another more common slang word haha) and basically means someone who thinks they’re great. I’ve heard older residents of Kensington say “nowt” and “owt”, which are both UK slang words as well, so I wonder if they sort of carried over to Melbourne. “Birds nest”, refers to someone with messy hair, “cat eyes” is sort of blurry, it’s not used much but I think it refers to something very valuable, as there are marbles called cat eyes as well. “Belter”, something really good or amazing (not to be confused with “belted” which refers to being beaten very badly, usually by your parents). “Yonks” refers to something that takes a long time, “Duck’s Guts” is a more rural term which means something really good. “Have a wobble” is often used by elderly people, it just means to agree to disagree basically, and is usually said passive-aggressively or dismissively. “Chips” is a common nickname for tall, lean men or boys. “Chimpy” means cheap or shoddy. “Mercy Moo” this one is very derogatory, it usually refers to an overweight girl attending a private catholic school or something of the sort. My grandad used that a fair bit back in the day.
I’m from the Appalachian Mountains of East TN, USA and we actually share some of the same slang lol
Hey Jim as a born and bred Aussie I can tell ya “dirpy” is how you heard “dopey” as in slow/ stupid/ idiot. Or the name of one of the 7 dwarves in a seppo cartoon I spose haha! Thanks for the laugh! And for being interested in talking strayan. Catch ya ron
That’s what I was thinking. Not sure on derpy but certainly dippy & or dopey referring to somewhat of an idiot mantality.
Bloody galoot is one I haven’t heard in a long time.
Australians also tend to say complete sentences as one word. For example:
Whatchupta? owsitgoin? whatyadointhisarvo? catchyalater? whatsupisass? bloodyhell wadyadothatfor? com’ntothebarbie? huzzzaup? doindonuts in ma’ute! whatchagoin,todo,bout,it? ab,so,bloody,utely,nuthin! causehe’sa,flamin,(xxxx).
ya,avin,a,go,r,ya? nah,chill,mate. that,eff,ing,dick!
Due to the lack of pausing, foreigners can find it difficult to understand this Australian version.
There are actually 3 different types or Australian English.
1. Proper/Formal Australian English where the person is quite eloquent, enunciates words and is usually from the upper classes and lives within their demographic. You would never hear a QC (Queen’s Counsel at Law) say “whadyado?”. They say “What did you do?”
2. Normal Australian English. A middle class accent. The nasal accent isn’t as pronounced as the “strayan” presented here. Common to shorten words and sentences but not to the extent of 3. Uses formal speech when necessary yet reverts (to an extent) when with family and friends.
3. Strayan. Clipped sentences, many euphemisms, nasal, and if from the rural areas they tend to speak quite slowly. This dialect likes to shorten most words even names e.g. Davoe, Richo, ScoMo (our Prime Minister lol), Sentences. See above.
As with any large country dialects are now forming even within the cities, towns and States).
SO PLEASE understand that if you called me mate. i would think ” This tourist is way off, I’m not your mate”. Don’t TRY to use STRAYAN because you will find you are way off and just embarrassing for yourself. K?
And. SHIELA is derogatory so NO! And do not bring your “fanny pack” because that’s your Vagina pack. A man has his Willy, Donger, or his Crown Jewels (fruit & 2 veg).
Some other I have heard!
looked like a stunned mullet (shocked)
lower than a snakes belly (without morals)
put a cork/plug in it willya? before i do! (SHUT UP)
petrolhead (car hoon)
he is so far up himself, he’s in pain
devo (deviant)
chucka yui (do a U-turn)
chuckasickie (fake sickness for a day off)
Un-Australian (not giving people a fair go)
And a zillion more Laugh along!
Good additions to the list!
I hate to embarrass you darlin’ but “He is so far up himself” means that he is so vain (he is in pain🤣)as in thinks he’s so irresistible or “gods gift to women”. “A show pony” type of wanna be macho but too busy looking hot for the ladies..
A real dickhead in other words.
If “he’s in pain” luv, then we all know “the blokes fu**ed, poor bugger”.
In the regional/remote areas “mate” is used by everyone for everyone.
G’day mate can be used by a male or female for a male, female, friend or stranger.
Nobody takes offence at being called mate.
cheers mate
Scomo isn’t pm anymore it’s Albo
I am australian, and I only knew around half of these. But joey is the REAL name for a baby kangaroo, not slang. And last time I checked, Esky is a company, not slang.
But I am half british, so I guess I have no right to be australian. XD
Anyway, interesting list!
Yes I think your half-Britishness may be deceiving you! (Although I’m equally British and Aussie also, so who am I to talk).
Esky is a brand name you’re right, but Aussies use it to mean “portable cooler box” of any brand. Bit like “Doona” is a brand name but Aussies use it to mean duvet of any brand.
Similar to how British people use the word “hoover” to mean vacuum cleaner of any brand, and Americans say “kleenex” to mean any brand of paper facial tissue. Brand names sometimes enter the language like that.
I thought the list really good – many words I use all the time, only a handful I’d never heard.
I do think slang is different from one part of Australia to another, though, maybe the person compiling the list was from near me and you’re from somewhere further away.
I’m sure I’m spelling this incorrectly, but what does “buy a donkey” mean?
as an australian, i have never heard of this term in my life
No the saying Buy a donkey isn’t at all Australian that I know of. But there is an African word n it’s spelt ‘baie dankie’.
Some other slang
– froth, mint, sick (cool)
I am 4th gen Aussie. Lived in 3 different states. “To buy a donkey” is also “To buy a Lemon” “To buy a dud” however, it refers to the inability of the buyer in this case to not know the difference between a horse and a donkey. Because if whoever bought the donkey had any brains about buying a horse he wouldn’t have come home with a donkey and this saying is a loosely generalised saying for anyone who thinks they know what they’re doing when it’s quite apparent they don’t. To buy a Lemon or a dud means you’ve been ripped off by a purchase buying something less of what you expected for the money paid. Lol, this is fun 🙂
Good list! As an Aussie, many of these are extremely common, some even more common than the “proper” word, and I use many on a daily basis. When was the last time I said “what are you doing this afternoon?” when I meant “what ya doing this arvo”? Or when was the last time I said I’m baking “biscuits”? No no, nearly always “arvo” and “bikkies” for me.
Some terms are much rarer though, a few I hadn’t heard before. Sky gator? That was new to me.
Also, “dag” meaning a funny and likeable person? That’s a new meaning! To me, “dag” is a mild insult, or sometimes an endearment in the twisted way Aussie can use words, for someone who is a bit scruffy or considered uncool. “Daggy” is the adjective, describing someone or something that’s scruffy or uncool.
I grew up in Kensington, Melbourne, and we have some very peculiar words (and a peculiar accent to match). The accent is by far the most Londoner-sounding Australian accent I’ve ever heard, and quite frankly I was surprised at how other Aussies sound when I first left Kensington.
Spitting – To rain very lightly. “Oh, it’s only spitting out there.”
Tuppence – Nothing or hardly anything. “You wouldn’t believe it, I got tuppence for that.”
Shit-hot – ‘Shit’ is applied broadly before words as a way to exaggerate it. “That’s shit-good!” or “Oh, shit-yeah!”. It rolls very well with the Kensington accent, pronounced like “Shitch-yeah”.
Nowt – Nothing, similar to tuppence but can be applied to events. “There’s nowt on in that joint.”
Owt – Opposite to nowt. Owt means something, or anything. “Is there owt going on or not?”
Bird’s nest – A very messy, shaggy hairdo. “Look at that bird’s nest!”
Cat’s eyes (or) Cat eyes – Something valuable, precious. “I’d hang onto that, it’s cat’s eyes.”
Belter – Something great, usually a party or other event. “Last night was a belter!”
Belted – Getting beaten severely, usually by your parents. “My dad belted the daylights out of me for that!”
Yonks – A long time, ages. “We’ve been going for yonks!”
(The) Duck’s guts – Something very good or exciting. “This car’s the duck’s guts mate!”
Have a wobble – Used as a way to end a disagreement passive-aggressively. “Oh fine, have a wobble then.”
Chips – Skinny, usually used to refer to a tall, lean person. “This bloke’s chips!”
Chimpy (or) Chimp – Cheap. “Do you like it? I got it chimpy from the op-shop!”
Black Mariah – A specific police truck for arresting just about anyone. It has a very nasty reputation in Kensington. “Don’t let the Black Mariah catch you mate… Run for your life!”
Bird – A woman. “This bird in the shop gave me a discount.”
Slag – A promiscuous man, sometimes used for women but not often. It’s basically a male alternative to slut. “Oh that bloke’s a slag!”
Wank – Masturbate, common all over Australia.
Dopey – A moron. “Oi, dopey!”
Dill – A dopey person, someone innocently stupid. “Christ, this bloke’s a dill!”
Rat-bastard – Just means bastard, someone who is not liked for whatever reason. I don’t know why ‘rat’ is included in front of it.
Dog – Someone to be treated with little to no respect, usually as a result of a wrongdoing. “Him? He knocks his wife around, he’s a dog.”
Truncheon – A policeman’s billy club. “He’ll hit us with the truncheon!”
Abbas/Abbers – The abattoirs. Used primarily by slaughtermen. “Go up the abbas and find some work there.”
Slaught – A slaughterman. “I used to be a slaught.”
Locomotive – I’ve heard this used for anything that is deemed unstoppable. “That horse can’t lose, it’s a bloody locomotive!”
Bloomin’ – Alternative to ‘bloody’. “Bloomin’ hell.”
Warming up – Getting angrier and angrier. “Mate, I’m warming up…”
Been Had – To have been tricked or conned. “I think we’ve been had.”
Madra/Magra – Pronounced; ‘MADGE-RAH’, this means a mixed-breed dog. Alternative to the more common ‘bitzer’. “This thing? It’s a madra mate.”
Right – Proper, absolute. “He’s a right wanker, that bloke.” This is extremely common in Kensington, it’s used in almost every sentence haha.
Pentridge – This is an actual prison from the old days, it was a very bad place to go to. Now the name ‘Pentridge’ is used for most jails and prisons around Kensington and Flemington as slang.
The Pent – A shortened variant of ‘Pentridge’. It just means any jail or prison. “He’s ended up in the pent.”
Bob – Money, typically cents. “Fifty-bob for that?!”
Jenker/Jenka – A wagon or cart pulled by horses. It isn’t used much anymore.
Jammy Dodger – A popular biscuit with raspberry jam in the centre. Arnotts make them but don’t call them this.
Mick – A friend, mate. Alternative for ‘cobber’ or ‘mate’. “Yeah, alright mick.”
Wench – Usually used to refer to a female cat, it is also sometimes used to refer to a very rude old woman. “My mate got a cat, it’s a bloody wench.”
Punt/Punting/Punter – Bet, gamble, usually on horses. “Come down to the TAB and punt with me.” This word is common all over Australia.
Mongoloid – A derogatory word which began as a racial slur but is now used to refer to someone stupid or retarded. “God, you’re a mongoloid.”
Possum-pants – Common amongst elderly ladies, this refers to a child (usually a girl) who can’t sit still. “Sit still, possum-pants!”
White pointer – This one is interesting. It refers to a Great White Shark, but most people in Kensington (or other inner Melbourne suburbs) don’t call them Great Whites, they call them White Pointers or White Death.
Floozy – A particularly flirtatious young woman or girl, usually considered to be not very intelligent. “She’s such a floozy…”
Scag – Shortened version of scumbag. “Look at that scag!”
Divvy Van – This is common all over Melbourne. It means a police transport van. “Got breathalysed last night, thought I was gonna end up in the divvy van.”
Yankees/Yanks – Used to refer to northerners, much in the same way that Queenslanders call New South Wales and Victorian people Mexicans. “Those yanks up there are a bit slow.”
There are many others but these are what I could think of right now.
Hey Jack, so cool, I hadn’t heard “madra” – and after 19 years (half of them spent in Lithgow, country Tassie, and the Blue Mountains ) I’ve heard a lot of slang. Where in Oz do you live, may I ask. It’s so interesting.
madra comes directly, unchanged from the Irish Gaeilge, just like sheila, smithereens etc.
I’m writing a light-hearted sci-fi series set in outer space, where all the characters are women, and one’s a bolshie Strayan.
She gets all the best lines, and I’d like to keep her authentic if I can.
She’s from Brizzie, and uses a lot of slang.
In the scene I’m writing, all hell breaks loose and I need her to ask ‘what the hell’s going in,’ but in slang.
“What’s the Dory,” isn’t enough.
Can anyone help please?
Thanks cobblers!
Back in my childhood days in Glasgow, it was common to say “cumon, whut’s the score pal?” Or, more often when things are getting heated, “whut’s the fu@#in score pal?” for “what the hell’s going on “
The words – maybe
The slang usage – unlikely
A drongo
mad as a cut snake
fast as an abo in a bushfire
dry as a dingo’s donger
Cheers
Dermot
Cobbers mate, not cobblers
Cobblers make and repair R M WILLIAMS (boots mate)
Cheers
Dermot
i never knew that some of these were slang, cause i use em every day (or minute) and who calls swimmers BAYTHERS, they r called cozzies. and NOONE calls a lady Sheila. being aussie i know all these and WAY more
In SA, we have bathers, not swimmers or togs.
Many are exckusively Australian, but some are also used in UK. And some certainly in Scotland.
On the subject of swimwear, another common one (depending where in Oz you are) is budgie smugglers.
don’t think that comes from the UK (too cold for budgie smugglers there)
Cheers
Dermot
How about a Winger..someone who complains a lot. I am a Yank but have travelled to Aussie land many times.
That should read “whinger”
A winger is the guy or gal running down the side either carrying or kicking a ball or the guy or girl that goes along with you as your wingman (read for male or female)
cheers
dermot
Does anyone remember any of these: letshavagander; having a psychedelic yawn; splash the boots; acting like a galah;hoon; budgie smugglers; get off the grass; a knight hood; a durry,rollie or op; donga; horses ass; breakfast of champions; raise it up the flagpole; pull the other one; pony,middy or schooner; strike a light; struth and don’t get your knickers in a twist.
Most of those are still in use somewhere in Oz today.
Cheers mate
Dermot
Canadian here, doing my Oz citizen oath in a few days. Lots are common between CA and AU, “spitting” is used on weather forecasts for instance.
The ones I got a big kick out moving here were people-focused and so common:
Tradie: Tradesman
Chippy: Carpenter
Sparky: Electrician
Firie: Firefighter
Bikie : Biker (i.e. “outlaw clubs”)
Bloody oath: Yeah, right!
Yeah, nah: No – more common than Nah, yeah: Yes
I can never figure how to work in fair dinkum without sounding like a poser, so I leave that to the locals.
Just a couple more that come to mind-
Ambo…an Ambulance officer/paramedic.
Round the Johnny Horner…around the corner.
Having a Captain Cook…having a look.
I’ll keep it for ron…I’ll keep it for later on.
Heya! Is there a specific slang way of saying that something is hilarious? Funny?
Thanks!
And is there a particular slang way of saying someone is lucky.
Thanks again!
Cracker
riot
rib tickler
side splitter
more laughs than a one armed man peeling a potato
Australian born in rural NSW, the bush.
There is very little here that I don’t recognize and or used while growing up, also have family members who still use most of it today.
Having moved to the US in the early 70’s I had forgotten quite a lot of them though.
Listening to a radio commercial here in the US back in the 80’s for meadow lea margarine a heavy Australian accent declared “some drongo dobed in my cheese and kisses for choofing off after the prang”, my immediate thoughts were “not many people understood that some idiot reported my wife for leaving the scene of an accident.
Now that’s “strayan”
There are 3 other classic Aussie slang sayings that have not been mentioned.
These are 1. It’s as dry as a dingo’s donger, 2. It’s so dry that I saw 2 dingos fighting over a tree and 3. As fast as an Abo in a bushfire.
We also have a tendency to use opposites as words of endearment.
Though I’m not one to use them because I think it’s crass, it’s still something I hear frequently.
Ie: you have the shits with someone and you refer to them as “mate”.
“Yeah no worries mate, ya f&$kin’ d:$khead!”
And then the opposite for a good friend
“G’day c$&t!, how are ya?!”
My Dad used say
“I could murder a schooner, my throat is drier than a pommy towel”
most of thoes words are used in every english speaking country
Fit aboot spikin a bit oh doric min. Thats fin yea weill see the quanter
As a South African who visit Australia often I had a good laugh at some of these words. Now I know why it is sometimes difficult to follow a conversation. Haha.
this is littlery batlimore
well iam flat ouy like a lizard drinking
flat out like a lizard drinking
Foofer or foofa valve
As in, gunna bust a foofa valve waiting
Its slave for gut or bottom bits lol
I was born and raised in Canada. We used to use some of these all the time. Funny how words and meanings get around and get traded. I still catch myself using many of them.