arvo-afternoon
avago-have a go (usually 'ya mug'-you fool-is added); try harder
barbie-short for barbecue
bewdy or bewdy bottler-good; the best
beyond the Black Stump-far from the city; the outback
bingle-minor car accident
bombed out-unsuccessful; also drunk
bushed-lost; also tired
by crickey-an expression of surprise
cark it-to die
cashed up-having plenty of ready money
cheesed (off)-bored; fed up
chewy-chewing gum
chook-a domestic fowl
chook raffle-a lottery in which the prize is a chicken; usually held in a 'pub' (hotel)
chuck a willy-go berserk
cobber-friend
cobber dobber-a person who informs on a friend
cocky-know-all (like cocky on the biscuit tin); also a small farmer
come a gutser (cropper)-to fall heavily
cot case-a drunk or exhausted person, fit only for bed
deadhead-a stupid person
dead marine-an empty beer bottle
dead set-certain; assured; used as an exclamation meaning 'really!'
dead set against it-uncooperative
dinky-di-genuine
do a Norm-to act foolishly
do the lolly (melon; nana; loaf)-to get very angry
dob in-to betray or report someone to the authorities; also to nominate someone for an unpleasant task
don't get off your bike-calm down
doughy-stupid
drongo-stupid person
dunny-an outside toilet
esky-a portable icebox (brand name)
fair crack of the whip-ease up
fair dinkum-honest; genuine
fair enough-all right; acceptable
fair go-a chance; also an appeal for fairness
five finger discount-shoplifting
flake (out)-to collapse, to fall asleep
flat out like a lizard drinking-lying prone; also rushed, extremely busy
flush-having plenty of money
fossick-to search for something
full as a goog (tick; boot)-drunk
full on-all the way: full on excellent
garbage!-an exclamation meaning 'what rubbish, I don't believe you!'
go off like a bucket of prawns in the sun-to create a commotion
good one-an exclamation of approval
gurgler-drain
gutful-more than enough
have tickets on oneself-to be conceited
hit the deck-to duck; to put one's head down
hit the tin-to put money in the kitty; to contribute to a collection of cash
hoon-a stupid or uncultivated person; to cruise around
hooroo-goodbye
jigging-playing truant from school (skipping school)
kick in-to help out with money
knock-to criticise, find fault
knocker-a person who makes derogatory remarks
like a hornet in a bottle-furious
like a possum up a gum tree-moving fast
like a rat up a drainpipe-moving even faster
lingo-language
loaded-extremely wealthy; also very drunk
mate-good or best friend; also used to greet someone as in 'G'day mate'
matilda-a blanket roll carried by a swagman
m'oath-my oath, on my oath
mug-a fool; also face
mulga-rough country
no-hoper-an incompetent person; a social misfit
nosh-up-a good meal
nick-to steal
nick off-to go away; expression meaning 'lose yourself'
get nicked-to be caught
nifty-stylish; clever; shrewd to the point of dishonesty
ocker-the archetypal uncultivated Australian man
'ooroo-goodbye
outback-the inland country far away from the cities
prang-minor car accident
rack off-to go away; expression meaning 'lose yourself!'
ring-in-a substitute
sangers-sandwiches
scungies-swimsuit worn for surfboard riding
shonky-poor quality;shoddy
skip-Australian-born (from Skippy the Kangaroo)
skite-a bragger
stinker-an objectionable person
stone the crows-exclamation of astonishment
swagman-a man who wanders around the country on foot and takes odd jobs
ratbag-a rogue; an eccentric person
rubbish-to criticise; to mock
ta ta!-bye bye!
take a sickie-to take a day off work
tax-to steal; to nick
tinnie-a can of beer
too right-an exclamation meaning 'I quite agree'
top drop-a good beer
true blue-genuine
twit-a fool
up-ta-putty-terrible
vegie-a silly person
veg-out-to do something foolish
wag it-to play truant
wheetie-a noisy skidding turn while driving
whinge-to complain
whopper-something surprisingly big
wowser-a killjoy; a prudish teetotaler
write-off-a total loss
yakka-hard or heavy work
yobbo-a stupid or uncultivated person
zonked (out)-tired out; exhausted |