GLOSSARY

Aerial ping-pong: Australian rules football.

Ankle biter: Small child.

Back of beyond: Way out there somewhere, remote.

Barbie: Barbecue.

Barrack: Cheer, as in “barrack for the Socceroos.”

Battler: Someone who tries hard despite money problems.

Beaut: Great, terrific.

Billabong: A water hole in a dry river bed.

Billy: A metal can, usually tin, used for making tea over an open fire.

Bitumen: Paved road. (Pronounced: “bitch-a-men”).

Bloke: A male, a guy, a mate.

Bludger: A person who does little or nothing; slothlike.

Blue: To have an argument or a fight.

Bonnet: Hood of a car.

Boot: Trunk of a car.

Bottle shop: Liquor store.

Buckley’s chance: Absolutely no chance. “He’s got two chances: Buckley’s and none.”

Bull: Water buffalo.

Bung on an act: To exaggerate the circumstances.

Chemist: Pharmacy or drugstore.

Cuppa: Cup of tea or coffee.

Drongo: Stupid, clumsy person. Derived from the name of a hapless racehorse.

Drover: Australian cowboy or stock herder.

Esky: Insulated container (usually to keep beer cold).

Eyeful: A beautiful or attractive woman.

Fair dinkum: Something that is genuine, true or fair.

Fair go: A chance, an equal opportunity.

Flake: Shark meat, what you usually get in fish and chips.

Flat out: Very busy.

Footy: All-encompassing term for soccer, rugby and Australian rules football.

Give it away: Give up.

G’day: Greeting, as in “Good day.”

Get a rat up ya: Hurry up.

Gone bung: Broken.

Goodonya: Well done. “Good one.”

Grazier: Cattle or sheep farmer.

Grog: General name for all alcohol.

Hard yakka: Hard work.

Holiday: Vacation.

How much can a koala bear? How much can a person take?

Jackass: Another name for the Australian bird, the kookaburra.

Jackeroo: Young male ranch hand.

Jillaroo: Young female ranch hand.

Journo: Journalist. At the Olympics, a sportswriter.

Kiwi: Person from New Zealand.

Knock-off: The end of the work day.

Larrikin: Mischievous, irreverent person. Used admiringly.

Lift: Elevator.

Lolly: Candy.

Lay-by: To buy on installment; layaway.

Mate: Friend.

Matilda: Sleeping bag or bedroll.

Meat wagon: Ambulance.

Milk bar: General store.

No worries: Don’t worry, no problem, everything is OK.

Nuddy: The swim in the nude.

Ocker: A genuine Australian, usually a person from the bush who regularly uses Aussie slang.

Offsider: Assistant or partner.

Out of pocket: Spent more than received.

Pavlova: A meringue pie shell filled with fruit and whipped cream. If Australia has a national dessert, this would be it.

Perve: To be a peeping Tom, to look with lust.

Pommies: Englishmen.

Possie: Position or spot.

Ratbag: Weirdo.

Razoo: An imaginary coin of no value; to have no money. As in, “He didn’t have a brass razoo.”

Roll a racehorse: To roll one’s own cigarette.

Roo: Kangaroo.

Ropable: Extremely angry or bad-tempered.

Sealed: Paved, as in a “sealed road.”

Septic or seppo: An American, from rhyming slang for “Yank” (as in “septic tank.”) Now more than a bit outdated, according to sophisticated locals.

Shellacking: Criticism for a thorough, shameful defeat.

Shonky: Dubious, unreliable.

Shopstealing: Shoplifting.

Shout a beer: To pay for a beer. As in, “My shout.”

Singlet: White tank T-shirt. Often worn alone by certain Aussie males.

Smoke-o: Cigarette break.

Strine: Australian slang.

Sunbake: Sunbathe.

Swagman: A tramp, itinerant worker.

Ta: Thank you.

Takeaway: Takeout food.

Tinnie: Can of beer.

Tucker: Food. Derived from what Australian cowboys (drovers) could tuck into their saddlebags for a day.

Windscreen: Windshield.

Yobbo: Uncultured lout.