A
Ace — Excellent (this one’s for the Big O, you know you love it!)
Ankle biter — Small child
Arvo — Short for “afternoon.” Standard Australian issue. If you’re new here, yes, we really shorten everything.
Aussie — Australian
Aussie salute — Brushing away flies with the hand
Av a go – Have a crack at it.
Avo — Not a legal term. Just an avocado. Often on toast.
B
Bachelor's handbag - hot, store-bought roast chicken in a plastic, handled bag. Usually Eaten over the sink.
Back of Bourke – Middle of nowhere, a very long way away
Bangers – Barbecue sausages.
Barbie / Barby – Barbecue.
Battler – The stoic underdog who works hard for scraps.
Beauty bottler – A scene or thing that wows — a positive surprise.
Bee’s knees – Truly excellent.
Beer o'clock – Perfect time for a beer.
Berko – Person who flies off the handle over nothing.
Best thing since sliced bread – An awesome invention or event.
Beyond the black stump – Way out in the sticks.
Bicky/Bickie – Biscuit
Big Bickies – Lots of Money
Big smoke — A big city, especially Sydney or Melbourne
Billabong — An oxbow lake cut off by a change in the river
Bingle – Minor car accident.
Bless your cotton socks – “You're a legend”; heartfelt thanks.
Blimey! – Exclamation of surprise or shock.
Bloke — Man, guy
Bloody — Very - bloody hard yakka
Bloody oath — That’s certainly true
Bloody ripper – Crackingly good.
Blotto — Very drunk
Blowie — Blow fly
Bludger — Lazy person
Blue — A fight or argument. Can range from a hissy-fit to a full-on pub-clearing brawl.
Blue – Someone with red hair. Alleged Australian laconic sense of humour
Bluey – Cattle dog/Police officer
Bog in — Commence eating
Bogan – Rough-around-the-edges type/ Bogan is also an Australian Aboriginal term meaning ‘the birthplace of a notable headman of the local tribe’
Bonzer — Great, ripper!
Bottle-O – Off-license, corner booze shop.
Brekkie – Breakfast.
Bush – Countryside.
Buggered — Exhausted, broken
Bush telly — Campfire
BYO — Bring Your Own
C
Cactus — Dead, not functioning
Calm your farm – Settle down, calm the hell down.
Can / The Can / Dunny-Can – Toilet.
Cark it – To die.
Carrying on like a pork chop – Making a fuss where none’s needed.
Cashed-up bogan – Bogan with dubious funds or flash money.
Cat’s pyjamas – The best; awesome (like bee’s knees).
Cheap as chips – Dirt cheap.
Cheese and kisses – Rhyming slang for “missus” (wife).
Cheese Cutters – Super narrow tires.
Chewie – Chewing gum.
Chicken out – Back out; lose nerve.
Chockers – Completely full.
Choof off – Bugger off, leave.
Chook — A chicken. Also used affectionately for a person — usually someone flapping about or causing a fuss. “Settle down, ya bloody chook!”
Chuck a U-ey – Do a U-turn
Chuck a wobbly – Throw a tantrum.
Chunder – Vomit
Clanger – a massive faux pas or social stuff-up.
Claret – Blood
Clear as mud – Utterly confusing.
Coathanger – Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Coppers —Police. Sometimes also “the Wallopers,” “the Jacks,” the Rozzers”
Corker — Something excellent
Cozzie — Swimming costume
Cranky — In a bad mood, angry
Crook — Sick, or badly made
Cut lunch — Sandwiches
D
Dag — A funny person
Daggy – Uncool, frumpy.
Daks — Trousers
Damage the Doulton – Messy stomach trouble.
Dapto briefcase – Boxed Wine
Date roll – Toilet paper.
Dead horse – Tomato sauce.
Deliver the goods – Come through on promises.
Derro – Derelict, unkempt person.
Devo – Devastated.
Devonshire – Traditional tea with scones and jam.
Digger – Aussie soldier.
Dinki-di – Genuinely authentic Australian.
Dinkum — True, real, genuine.
Dipstick — A loser, idiot.
Do bugger all – Do absolutely nothing.
Doodle – Very easy “It should be a doodle from here”
Do the bolt – Scarper, get out fast.
Do the Harold Holt – Bolt, disappear, vanish without a trace.
Dosh — Money
Down Under — Australia and New Zealand
Dummy-spit —A dramatic overreaction.
Dunny — toilet
E
Earbashing — Nagging
Esky — Insulated food/drink container for picnics, barbecues, etc.
Every man and his dog – Absolutely crowded; too many.
Ey? – Seeking confirmation
F
Fair crack of the whip – “Give me a break!”
Fair dinkum – Genuine or true; also used as “really?”
Fair go – A chance to try and achieve. “All they want is a fair go, mate.”
Fair suck of the sauce! – Complaint at not being given a fair opportunity.
Fell off his perch – Died.
Fell out of the ugly tree – Not attractive. “Nice bloke, but he fell out of the ugly tree.”
Fella — Man
Fellas – A group of mates, usually men. “Hey fellas, give us a hand with this tinny.”
Fifteen – A 425ml beer glass (Hobart term), same as a schooner, called a pint in Adelaide. “Can I get a fifteen of beer?”
Finch pinchers – See budgie smugglers (only tighter).
Fitter than a Mallie bull – Extremely healthy and strong.
Flamin’ hell – Exclamation of annoyance or surprise. “Flamin’ hell it’s hot.”
Flannie – A flannelette shirt/sheet.
Flat out like a lizard drinking – Flat out busy.
Flavour saver – Patch of beard below the lip. “Dazza’s sporting a new flavour saver.”
Footie / Footy – Short for football (could mean AFL, rugby, or soccer, depending on context).
Freebie – Something given for free. “Got it as a freebie.”
Frog in a sock – Someone or something frantic, full of energy. “That kid’s going off like a frog in a sock.”
Full as a doctor’s wallet – Completely full, “I couldn’t eat another thing, I’m full as a doctor’s wallet.”
Full as a goog – (googy egg) Very full. “No more, I’m full as a goog.”
Full-on —Intense, hectic, or overwhelming. “That was a full-on day.” Also applies to drug experiences, trauma spirals, and school discos in the ’80s.
Furphy – A false or misleading story. “That rumour about me being at the party was a furphy.”
G
G’day – Abbreviation of “good day.” “G’day mate!”
Galah – Silly person, fool. “He looked like a right galah.”
Gander – A look at something. “Have a gander at this, mate.”
Gee up – to gaslight also “to get moving.”
Get a handle on something – To understand or figure out. “Once I get a handle on it, she’ll be right.”
Get off the grass – Exclamation meaning “I don’t believe you!” “Get off the grass, they won’t win the final.”
Give it a burl /give it a whirl – To try something new. “Never skydived, but I’d give it a burl.”
Goes like the clappers – Moves extremely fast. “That car goes like the clappers.”
Goldie – A $1 or $2 coin. “Chuck us a goldie, will ya?”
Good onya — Good for you, well done
Good sort – Attractive person (man or woman). “Plenty of good sorts at the pub tonight.”
Gorge – Short for “gorgeous.” “That dress is gorge!”
Grass cutter – Someone moving in on your turf (romantic or otherwise). “Watch him, he’s a grass cutter.”
Grease frisbee – Pizza. “Grab a slice of this grease frisbee.”
Grog – Alcohol in general. “Off to the bottlo for some grog.”
Grouse — Great, terrific, very good
Grumblebum – Chronic complainer. “Stop being such a grumblebum.”
Gumbies – Gum boots / Wellingtons. “It’s been pissing down, I’ve lived in me Gumbies.”
Gunna – Contraction of “going to.” “I’m gunna clean the shed.”
Gutless wonder – A coward. “Robbing an old lady — what a gutless wonder.”
H
Handle – A 285ml (10 fl oz) glass in Darwin. “Can I get a handle of beer?”
Hang on a tick – Wait a moment. “Hang on a tick, mate.”
Happy as a tin of worms goin’ fishing – Very unhappy. “He looked as happy as a tin of worms goin’ fishing after he lost his job.”
Happy little Vegemite – A cheerful Australian. “She won the raffle — a happy little Vegemite.”
Hard yakka – Hard work. “Been hard yakka all week.”
Harold Holt – Rhyming slang for “salt.” “Pass the Harold Holt.”
Has a smile like a split watermelon – Describes a very wide smile. “He was grinning like a split watermelon.”
Have a crack – Try at something. “Go on, have a crack at it.”
Have a gander — Have a look at something
Have a go, ya mug! – Encouragement to try. “C’mon, have a go ya mug!”
Have a squiz – Take a look. “Have a squiz at this.”
Heaps – A lot. “There were heaps of people at the beach.”
Hissy fit – A tantrum. “He threw a hissy fit when he didn’t get his way.”
Hit for six – Exhausted or unwell (from cricket). “This flu’s hit me for six.”
Hold ya horses – Be patient, wait a minute. “Hold ya horses, we’ll get there.”
Hoo roo / Hooroo – Goodbye. “Hooroo, see you later.”
Hooley dooley – Exclamation of surprise. “Hooley dooley, that was fast!”
Hoon – Reckless driver. “That bloke’s a bloody hoon.”
I
I would not give a Tuppence (Two pennies) – Not worth a cent, wouldn’t risk a thing. “I wouldn’t give a tuppence for that idea.”
Idiot box – Television. “What’s on the idiot box tonight?”
In good nick – In good condition. “This car’s in good nick, mate.”
In like Flynn – To succeed easily or gain access quickly. (Often credited to Australian-born actor Errol Flynn, famed for charm and scandal.) “Got the job, in like Flynn.”
J
Jack of it – Had enough, fed up. “By the time they called me back I was totally jack of it.”
Jocks – Underwear (men’s). “Pull your pants up, your jocks are showing.”
Joey — Baby kangaroo
Jug — Electric kettle
Juice – Petrol/fuel. “The car was cheap, but it guzzles the juice.”
Jumbuk – Sheep (made famous by Waltzing Matilda). “Where’s the jolly jumbuck you’ve got in your tucker bag?”
K
Kanga – Kangaroo. “Check out that massive kanga!”
Kangaroos in the top paddock – Acting or thinking foolishly; not quite right in the head.
Keep your shirt on! – Calm down, don’t lose your temper. “Keep ya’ shirt on, he’s only joking.”
Kibosh – Restraint; to put a stop to something. “That’ll put the kibosh on your plans.”
Killing it – Doing extremely well, excelling. “She’s killing it at the gym.”
King oath – Strong affirmation; absolutely! “King oath, mate!”
Knackered – Very tired. “I’d love to come but I’m absolutely knackered.”
Knock — To criticise
Knock back — Refusal
Knock it off – Stop doing something; cut it out. “You two knock it off and shake hands.”
Knock off – To finish work; or a cheaper copy of something. “Let’s knock off and head to the pub.”
Knock yourself out – Go ahead, do as you please. “Can I grab a muffin?” – “Knock yourself out.”
L
Larrikin — A trickster/ prankster
Layabout – A lazy person. “He’s a useless layabout.”
Lemon spread – Rhyming slang for “head.” “The cricket ball hit him right in the lemon spread.”
Like a bandicoot on a burnt ridge – To be alone or isolated. “The new kid was like a bandicoot on a burnt ridge at lunch.”
Like a bucket of prawns in the sun – Smelly, off. “Who farted? Smells like a bucket of prawns in the sun!”
Lippie – Lipstick. “I’ll just pop some lippie on before we go.”
Lobbed up – Arrived unexpectedly. “Kylie lobbed up to Johno’s party.”
Lobster (money) – A $20 note, orange in colour. “Lend us a lobster, I forgot my wallet.”
Lobster (skin) – Sunburn. “Mate, you’ve turned lobster.”
Lollies – Candy/sweets. “Grab me a bag of lollies from the shop.”
Long as a wet weekend – Feels like a very long time. “Waiting for you was as long as a wet weekend.”
Lost the plot – To lose one’s sense of reason. “That bloke’s lost the plot.”
Lower than a snake’s belly – Morally corrupt, untrustworthy. “Don’t trust him, he’s lower than a snake’s belly.”
M
Macca’s – McDonald’s restaurant. “I’m goin’ to Macca’s for a chew and spew.”
Make a bird of it – To do something properly, to make it worthwhile. “Go on, make a bird of it.”
Mate – A friendly, everyday term of affection or address. “Good on ya, mate.”
Mate’s rates – A discount given to friends or family. “Do it for mate’s rates and I’ll shout you some coldies.”
Matilda – A swag; bundle of belongings. “Chuck ya Matilda in the back of the ute.”
Middy – A 285ml (10 fl oz) glass of beer in Sydney, Canberra and Perth. “Can I get a middy?”
Missus – A man’s wife or girlfriend. “I’m takin’ the missus out for her birthday.”
Moggie – A domestic cat. “Our moggie’s a good mouser.”
Moolah — Money
Mozzie – Mosquito. “Bloody mozzies are everywhere tonight.”
Mug – Mild insult; a fool or dupe. “Have a go, ya mug!”
Muscles like a chicken’s insteps – Very skinny. “He’s got muscles like chicken’s insteps.”
Mushies – Mushrooms. “Best brekky is mushies on toast.”
N
Nah yeh – A casual way of saying yes. “Keen for another beer? Nah, yeh!”
Nanna nap (not just for the elderly). “I’m gonna have a Nanna’s before going out.”
Narky – Upset, moody, irritable. “Don’t get narky with me, mate.”
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story – Don’t let facts spoil a tale; exaggerate if it makes the yarn better.
Never never – Remote outback; even further than woop woop. “They went all the way out to the never never.”
Nicked – Stolen, pinched. “Struth, someone nicked the esky outta the ute!”
Nitty-gritty – The fine details. “Better check the nitty-gritty before you sign.”
Nitwit – Foolish or silly person. “Geez, you’re a nitwit.”
No worries — Expression of forgiveness or reassurance
Noah – Shark. (From rhyming slang “Noah’s Ark.”) “Plenty of Noahs in the surf today.”
Noose – A necktie. “Bloody new job means I’ve gotta wear a noose.”
Not happy, Jan! – A catchphrase for being thoroughly displeased. (From a famous Aussie ad.) “Power bill’s gone up again – not happy, Jan!”
Not the sharpest knife in the drawer – Not very bright; a bit slow.
O
Off the wall – Eccentric, unconventional, odd. “She’s a bit off the wall, mate.”
Off ya chops – Completely intoxicated (drugs or booze). “You’re off ya chops!”
Off ya rocker – Acting strange, silly, or mad. “Gee mate, you’re off ya rocker.”
Offsider – Assistant, mate, or right-hand person. “Talk to my offsider, he’ll sort you out.”
Oi! – Exclamation to get attention, or to emphasise something. “Oi! Another beer, thanks.”
Old mate — A friend or person you are referring to
On the blink – Not working, breaking down. “Bloody telly went on the blink.”
On the outer – Excluded, not part of the in-crowd. “He’s on the outer with that lot.”
Once over – A quick check or inspection. “I’ll give it the once over.”
One can short of a six-pack – Pub insult for someone silly or eccentric.
Outback — The remote and less populated inland districts of Australia
Over east – WA term for the rest of Australia (east of the Nullarbor). “Got that over east.”
Over the hill – Old, past one’s best. “Nan reckons she’s over the hill.”
Owyagoin, alright? – Greeting: “How are you going? Everything good?”
Oz — Australia
P
Pack it in – To give up or stop doing something. “Mate, I’m gonna pack it in for the day.”
Pash — A long passionate kiss
Pat Malone – Rhyming slang for “on your own.” “Went up the coast on my Pat Malone.”
Pav – Short for Pavlova, the iconic Aussie dessert. “Luv a bit of old pav, yum!”
Peanut gallery – Onlookers doing nothing helpful (often critics). “Don’t just stand there like a peanut gallery — grab a shovel!”
Pearler – Something impressive or excellent. “Strewth, that’s a pearler of a ute!”
Picking a winner – Picking your nose. “Look at that bloke, picking a winner.”
Pineapple – A $50 note (yellow-gold in colour). “Sorry mate, all I’ve got is a pineapple.”
Pint – In most of Aus: 570 ml (20 fl oz). In SA, “imperial pint” = 570 ml, “pint” = 425 ml. “Can I get a pint?”
POETS Day – Friday arvo tradition: “Piss Off Early, Tomorrow’s Saturday.” “Let’s knock off, it’s POETS day.”
Pommie – A person from the UK. “He’s a pommie here on holiday.”
Pong – A stink, bad smell. “Geez mate, you pong!”
Pony – A small beer glass: 140 ml (5 fl oz). “Can I have a pony of shandy?”
Port – Suitcase or school bag (esp. QLD). “Get that port out of the hall.”
Postie — Postman
Pot – A 285 ml beer glass (Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne). “I’ll grab a pot.”
Pozzy — Position
Preggers – Pregnant. “The missus is preggers again.”
Prezzy — Present, gift
Pull your head in – Mind your own business. “Pull ya head in, mate.”
Pulling your leg – Teasing or misleading for fun. “He’s only pulling your leg.”
Put a sock in it – Be quiet, stop talking. “Wish that loudmouth would put a sock in it.”
Q
Quid — Money
R
Rabbit on / Rabbitin’ on – Talking too much, usually about nothing. “They were rabbitin’ on, I tuned out in the end.”
Rack off – Go away, get lost. “Rack off, flies — I’m trying to eat my sausage sambo!”
Rafferty’s Rules – No rules at all, total free-for-all. “We’ll do it Rafferty’s rules, mate.”
Rapt — Pleased, delighted
Ratbag – A troublemaker, pest, or cheeky rogue. “Don’t be a ratbag in class.”
Rattle your dags – Hurry up (sheep dags = dried poo on wool that rattles when they run). “Come on, rattle your dags or I’ll leave without you.”
Reckon – To think or believe. “Do you reckon we’ll win the footy?”
Red Ned – Cheap red wine. “Just grab some Red Ned for the BBQ.”
Redback – A $20 note, originally printed on red paper before polymer money came in (1992). “Lend us a redback till payday.”
Reg Grundys – Rhyming slang for undies. “I went for a swim in me Reg Grundys.”
Rego – Car registration. “Gotta pay me rego this week.”
Ridgy-didge – Genuine, the real deal. “That bloke’s ridgy-didge.”
Right as rain – Everything will be fine. “She’s crook now, but she’ll be right as rain soon.”
Righto – Okay, all right. “Righto mate, catch ya later.”
Ringer – An expert, especially in stock work. “That young bloke’s a ringer with cattle.”
Ripper – Fantastic, unreal. “That was a ripper night.”
Rock up — To turn up
Roo — Kangaroo
Rub it in – Keep reminding someone of something negative. “Yeah, my team lost — no need to rub it in.”
S
Sambo / Sanger – A sandwich. “I’ll grab a sambo for lunch.”
Sandwiches short of a picnic – Doing things without thinking or common sense.
Sarvo – This afternoon. “See you later this sarvo.”
Schmick – Flashy, stylish, impressive. “That’s a schmick new ute.”
Schmiddy – A 350ml (12oz) beer glass, mainly Sydney & Canberra (blend of schooner & middy). “Schmiddy of shandy, thanks.”
Schooner – A 425ml (15oz) beer glass (except in Adelaide, where it’s only 285ml). “Schooner of lager, mate.”
Scorcher – A very hot day. “It’s a scorcher — pushing 45°.”
Scrub-headed turkey – Ugly person (like a bush turkey). “He’s got a head like a scrub-headed turkey.”
Scuffs – Shoes. “Take off your scuffs, I’ll polish them.”
Scull – To drink fast. “Bob Hawke was famous for sculling beer.”
See you round like a rissole – Goodbye. “Catch you round like a rissole.”
Seedy – Hungover, feeling rough. “Bit seedy after last night.”
Servo – Service station. “Grab milk at the servo.”
Settle petal – Calm down. “Oi, settle petal.”
Seven – A 200ml (7oz) beer glass. “Pour me a seven of coke.”
Shark biscuit – Rookie surfer, shark bait. “That grommet’s a shark biscuit.”
She’ll be apples – It’ll be fine. “Don’t worry, she’ll be apples.”
She’s cactus – Broken, not working. “Phone’s cactus.”
Sheila – Aussie woman (sometimes dated/derog). “She’s a good sheila.”
Shemozzle – A mess, confusion. “This job’s a shemozzle.”
Shetland – A 115ml (4oz) beer glass in Perth. “Why order a Shetland?”
Shindig – A party. “Big shindig last night.”
Shoo-in – A certainty to win. “It’s a shoo-in bet.”
Shoot through – To leave quickly. “Gotta shoot through by six.”
Shot duck – Exhausted. “I’m a shot duck after that shift.”
Shout — Your turn to buy drinks
Show you the ropes – Teach the basics. “I’ll show you the ropes.”
Sickie — Day off sick
Skip – Term for Anglo-Australians, from Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. “G’day skip.”
Slacker – Lazy person. “Put the bins out, ya slacker.”
Slow your roll – Don’t get ahead of yourself. “Slow your roll, champ.”
Small beer – A 115ml beer (Hobart term; Shetland in WA). “A small beer, thanks.”
Smoko — Smoke or coffee break
Snag (food) – Sausage. “Chuck a snag on the barbie.”
Snag (guy) – Sensitive New Age Guy. “You’re a real snag, Brian.”
Snake hips – Skinny person with no hips. “Look at those snake hips.”
Snog – To kiss, usually a pash. “We had a bit of a snog.”
Sook — Someone who sulks, whinges, or generally carries on like they’ve stubbed their toe on life. Can be affectionate or savage, depending on delivery.
Sparra’s guts (sparrow’s guts) – Asparagus. “Dinner’s got sparra’s guts.”
Sparrow’s fart – Very early, dawn. “Up at sparrow’s fart.”
Spesh – Special. “Made you something spesh.”
Spewin’ – Upset, annoyed. “Spewin’ I missed it.”
Spit the dummy — Get very upset
Spray – A verbal blasting. “Copped a spray from the boss.”
Sprung — Caught doing something
Stacks on – Everyone piling on top. “Stacks on Billy!”
Steve McGarrett – Fifty bucks (Hawaii 50 reference). “Lend me a Steve.”
Stick – A surfboard. “Got a new stick, unreal.”
Stick that in your pipe and smoke it – “Told you so.” “I was right — stick that in your pipe.”
Sticky beak – A nosy person. “She’s a sticky beak.”
Stinka – Very hot weather. “Today’s a stinka.”
Stirrer – Someone who stirs trouble. “He’s a stirrer, ignore him.”
Stoked — Totally thrilled
Stone the crows – Expression of shock. “Stone the crows, I don’t believe it!”
Strewth – Exclamation of surprise/disgust. “Strewth, that was close.”
Strike me lucky – Expression of amazement at good fortune. “Strike me lucky, I won!”
Stubbie – A 375ml beer bottle. “Grab a stubbie from the esky.”
Stubbies – Short/tight men’s shorts (1970s). “He rocked up in Stubbies.”
Stuffed – Worn out, exhausted. “I’m stuffed after that run.”
Sunbake — Sunbathe
Sunnies — Sunglasses
Surfies — People who go surfing
Swag — Rolled up bedding
Swipe / Swiped – To steal. “Left it in the ute, someone swiped it.”
T
Ta – Thank you. “Ta for that, mate.”
Tall poppies — Successful people
Tanty – A tantrum. “He dropped his ice cream and threw a massive tanty.”
Tea — Dinner
Technicolour yawn – Vomit. “He had a technicolour yawn in the dunny.”
Tee-up – Arrange, organise. “I’ll tee-up a meeting with him.”
That’s the way the cookie crumbles – Things happen, deal with it. “We lost, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
The dog and bone – Telephone. “He was yappin’ on the dog and bone.”
The drink – The sea or a body of water. “He fell out of the tinny into the drink.”
Thick as a brick – Very stupid. “That bloke’s thick as a brick.”
Thongs – Flip-flops, sandals. “Grab your thongs, we’re off to the beach.”
Ticker – Heart, courage. “She showed real ticker to finish the race.”
Tickety-boo – Everything’s fine. “Don’t worry, it’s all tickety-boo.”
Tickle the ivories – Play the piano. “He can really tickle the ivories.”
Tie one on – Go out drinking heavily. “We tied one on last night.”
Tight as a fish’s bum – Stingy, miserly. “He won’t shout, tight as a fish’s bum.”
Tinny (beer) – A can of beer. “Crack a tinny, mate.”
Tinny (boat) – Small aluminium dinghy. “We’ll take the tinny out crabbing.”
Togs – Swimwear. “Don’t forget ya togs for the beach.”
Too right – Absolutely correct. “Bloody hot today.” – “Too right.”
Too roo/Hoo roo – Goodbye/ Hello
Top drop – A really good wine. “This shiraz is a top drop.”
Trackie / Trackie daks – Tracksuit pants. “Chuck on your trackies, we’re going out.”
Truck load – A lot, heaps. “That’s a truck load of beer.”
Truckie’s tan – One arm more tanned than the other from driving. “He’s got a truckie’s tan.”
True blue — Patriotic
Tucker — Food
Twigged – Suddenly realised. “He finally twigged what was happening.”
Two men and a dog – A very small crowd. “Not many turned up, just two men and a dog.”
U
Ugg boots — Sheepskin boots
Undies – Underwear. “Don’t forget to chuck your undies in the wash.”
Uni — University
Up a gumtree – In strife, in trouble. “He’s up a gumtree with that debt.”
V
Veg out – To laze about, do nothing. “I’m just gonna veg out with the boys for a while, maybe hit the surf later.”
Veggies — Vegetables
W
Wag / Wagged – To be absent without permission. “Let’s wag school tomorrow.”
Walkabout — Lost, can’t be found
Watering hole – Pub or bar, especially one frequented by the same group. “Let’s go down to the watering hole with our mates.”
Wedgie – When your underwear/bathers/leotard goes up your bum. “Pull out your wedgie, it’s not a good look.”
Whacker — Idiot
Whinge — Complain
Whinger – Someone who complains a lot. “Did you hear that whinger going on about the news?”
Whole shebang – All of it, the lot. “I decided to buy the whole shebang.”
Wonky – Not straight, crooked, or unsteady. “Blow, I’ve put my lipstick on wonky.”
Woofa – A domestic dog. “Let’s take the woofa to the beach with us.”
Woop woop – A long way away, remote. “Nah, I can’t drive him there, that’s over near woop woop.”
Worth a shot – Worth trying. “I don’t know if it’ll work but it’s worth a shot.”
Wouldn’t wear that in a blackout – When you wouldn’t be caught dead in a particular outfit. “Are you serious? I wouldn’t wear that in a blackout!”
Wouldn’t work in an iron lung – A very lazy worker. “Gees, you wouldn’t work in an iron lung.”
Y
Yakka — Work, often hard yakka
Yank - American
Yanking your chain – To mildly antagonise or tease someone for amusement. “Keep your shirt on, I’m just yankin’ your chain.”
Yeh, nah – A simple way of saying no. “Want to help me move?” – “Yeh, nah.”
Yobbo – A loud-mouthed, badly dressed Aussie male. “He’s a yobbo.”
Yonks – A very long time. “They’ve been here for yonks.”
You little ripper – Expression of delight, meaning that’s great! “I can’t believe it, we won! You little ripper!”
Z
Zip it – Used to tell someone to stop talking or complaining. Politer than shut up. “Would you please zip it!”