Fair Dinkum,
and other odd things that blokes and sheilas say over here.
You'd think that as an English-speaker, I'd have no trouble coming to Australia and communicating with people, wouldn't you? But, fair dinkum, it's not as easy as that, mate. It took me a good month before I could order a beer at the local pub without getting some strange looks, and I'm still afraid of going to the beer st- er- bottle shop. The following is a list of the more common slang that I've been trying to get a handle on. And remember, it's all in good fun, mate.(Keep in mind that whenever you see "-er", it's pronounced "-a"; thus "you little ripper" becomes "ya little rippa", etc...:)
- you little ripper: I'm really pleased that happenned/ you did that
- ocker: someone who sounds REALLY Australian
- double pluggers: those really cheap plastic sandals with two straps that meet inbetween your big toe and second toe; otherwise known as thongs, and completely acceptable in nearly every social situation, especially up North
- middie: medium glass of draft beer, as in "Coupla middies, mate."
- pony: a ridiculously tiny glass of beer, these days used primarily for pub runs, where they seem to get larger and larger.
- pub run: similar to a pub crawl; participants must run between a number of designated pubs, drinking a pony at each pub. After reaching the last pub, you go back to the first one and start again. That's one lap; the winner is the person who can complete the most laps in one hour. Vomiting is encouraged, and usually videotaped. ( specific to UWA Waterski Club)
- carton/slab/block: 24 beers/24 beers/30 beers
- how ya goin?: g'day mate.
- boardies: swimming trunks
- bonnet: not a hat; the front of a car. You Poms probably know this one already, but it doesn't make it any less strange, or funny.
- boot: the back of a car. See above.
- tinny: a can of beer
- hard yakka: physical labour (nothing to do with throwing up, I'm afraid)
- fair dinkum: honestly, truly. Fair dinkum, people actually use this. I've heard it.
- good onya!/ onya!: well done!/ well done, you idiot!
- HJ's: Hungry Jacks aka Burger King. But it's pronounced "Haich-Jay's". Some people have a real problem pronouncing haiches.
- seppo: Septic-tank-yank; American. HaHa.
- ute: one of those really ugly station wagon-cum-pickup trucks that were so popular back in the seventies in North America, are still popular here. Short for Utility Vehicle
- wheelie bin: Council-issued plastic garbage bin on wheels. No joke, this is the official name, as used on the National News. Wheelie Bin. Yes, very nice.
- esky: Ice chest/cooler
- righto: right, ok
- no worries: no problem, no skin off my nose (I've always hated that expression)
- snag/snaggers (a personal fav of Al's): sausages! as in, "Chuckacouplasnagsonthebarbiematenoworries"
- freshie: freshwater crocodile, harmless to man unless provoked. Found in Northern Australia.
- saltie: saltwater crocodile, the man-eating variety. Found in Northern Australia. Likes man, attacks man. Not afraid of man. This man afraid of them. Also found in fresh water... go figure. No swimming til Queensland.
- footy: Aussie Rules Football. To many, life itself from March to September. (Some lower forms of life may misuse this term to mean Rugby, but we will ignore that usage)
- barrack: to support (a team), as in "who are you barracking for?"
- bathers: female bathing suits (Michelle kills herself laughing everytime I say "bathing suit." But bathers? BATHERS? How can you say that with a straight face?)
- billabong: a surf brand from Australia. And, Michelle says it's also a small body of water.
- bitumen: ashphalt. Sometimes called "sealed road."
- swag: a really cool roll-up sleeping bag with mattress built into the bottom, tent built into the top, and completely water-, bug- and snake-proof. Rather expensive, and we look with envy at anyone who has one.
- boozebus: I thought this would be a service that the city provided to go to sporting events etc. so that you could drink and not have to drive. In fact, it's a random breath testing police truck.
- chocka's: completely full-- comes from "chock-a-block". And yes, some people actually say chock-a-block.
- dag: a nerd. "He's a dag." "That's pretty daggy."
- dack; to dack: undershorts; to pull someone's pants down
- dunny: outhouse
- icey pole: popsicle. This one kills me
- speccy: spectacular
- lollies: candies. This one too. Grown-ups say it too. "I'd like a lolly."
- mozzies: mosquitoes
- POM: English person (Prisoner of Mother England)
- rapt: really excited. "I'm totally rapt."
- whada you reckon: What do you think?
- she'll be right: It/you'll be ok.
- smoko: smoke break
- whinge: to whine
- youse: plural of you for an astonishing number of Australians. See "HJ's"
