read up people.
* 4WD (Four wheel drive)
o SUV (Sports and utility vehicle)
* Agro (NOT from Sesame Street! lol)
o Aggrevated, angry
* Anchors (automotive)
o Brakes
* Ankle-biter, Tin lid
o Small child
* Anti-clockwise
o Counter-clockwise
* "Are you right?", "You right?"
o Usually asked at checkouts etc., meaning do you need help?
* Aussie (pronouced Ozzie, NOT Ossie!)
o Australian or Aussie (mostly pronounced incorrectly )
* Aussie battler
o An Aussie battler is someone who has to (and does) work hard to achieve their goals, usually with very little money. It is often a term to respectfully describe someone who will battle on regardless of adversities thrown their way and will quite often emerge the other end of the tunnel victorious, or at least proud of the way they’ve handled themselves. Even in the "lucky country", there are many Aussie battlers!
* Aussie salute
o Shooing flies away with your hand, obviously when you don’t have a hat with corks hanging down from it!
* Baby capsule
o Baby car seat
* Baby singlets
o Onesies
* Back of Bourke
o A long way away in the middle of nowhere, heading inland. Other terms used are "out in the sticks" and "in the boonies".
* Backfire
o Spitback, backspit
* Bad case of the trots
o Diarrhrea
* Banana bender
o A not so nice name for a Queenslander, but hey, they call Victorians "Mexicans", so fair’s fair!! lol
* Barbie, BBQ
o Barbecue, cook-out
* Bar code
o UPC (or proof of purchase)
* Barney
o Fight
* Barrack
o To "barrack" for one’s sporting team, to follow them, to cheer them on, etc.
* Bathers
o Swimsuit, swimwear
* Bathroom (which contains a shower and/or bath, sink and toilet
o Bathroom (which can either contain all of the above, or just a toilet)
* Bed sizes: Single; Double; Queen; King
o Twin; Full; Queen; King
* Bee’s knees, i.e. "You’re the bee’s knees!"
o "You’re the best!"
* Beetroot
o Beet
* Big smoke
o Major cities, i.e. Washington DC
* Billy, billy can
o A tin with a handle used to boil water on an open fire in the outback, used to make tea (billy tea, which includes a gum leaf for flavour) in the bush.
* Bingle, accident
o Wreck
* Biscuit
o Cookie
* Bite your bum (pronounced bite-cha bum!)
o Hush, be quiet, shut up
* Bloke
o Used to describe any Aussie male, so the US equivalent would probably be "man"
* Bloody
o A VERY common word in Australia, meaning "very", i.e. bloody hot day - very hot day.
* Bloody oath
o A term used to say that something is very true, i.e. "It’s a stinking hot day isn’t it?" ... "Bloody oath!" ;D
* Blowie
o Blowfly, a very large fly which irritate the heck out of we Aussies! We usually combat them outdoors by wearing hats with corks hanging down according to Australian legends and stories!! lol
* Bludger
o A lazy person who relies on someone else to do all of his/her work. A "dole bludger" is a person who lives on unemployment benefits ("the dole") while all his mates go out and work to earn money and pay taxes that will in turn pay the bludger’s dole money!
* Bonnet (automotive)
o Hood
* Bonza
o Excellent, great
* Boot (automotive)
o Trunk
* Bottom, rear end, backside, toosh, bum etc. etc.
o Fanny ... it’s preferable not to use this term in Australia, as it means something different! How to put this delicately? A "fanny" in Australia is a part of the anatomy that you will only find on females, and I’m not talking about boobs!
* Brollie
o Umbrella
* B & S Ball
o Bachelors’ and Spinsters’ Ball ... a great night out for unmarried Australians where for the most part they just get drunk and throw up ... just kidding!! ;D These are usually held in rural, or country, areas and more than likely were started to help match up the local unmarried girls and guys.
* Bugga (this is NOT a swear word in Australia, it’s very commonly used!)
o Poop, damn, and many other expletives!
* Buggalugs
o An affectionate term used to describe a person, this is what I call my little man Robert actually!
* Busy as Bourke Street during rush hour
o Very busy, flat out. Bourke Street is one of the main streets in Melbourne, Victoria and while ALL Melbourne streets are busy, Bourke St. is particularly busy!
* Buzz off!
o Go away!
* By jingoes
o Goodness, wow, an exclamation of surprise
* BYO
o Bring Your Own, which is what people do when you’re having shrimp on the barbie!! ROTFL See below if you want to know why I’m rolling on the floor laughing!! ;D
* Candy striper, lollypop man or woman
o A person who supervises school crossings to ensure the kids are safe crossing roads
* Capsicum
o Bell peppers
* Caravan
o A mobile home on wheels, similar to a trailer, which is towed behind a vehicle and parked in caravan parks around Australia. Caravans are a fun way for Australian families to go on holidays at much less expense. It costs a lot less to hook a caravan up to power than it does to pay for a motel room when you have kids!! They are NOT a bad thing in Australia, unlike trailers in the States which are used in derogatory terms such as "trailer trash". If you own a caravan in Australia it actually means you’re NOT poor, because they’re not cheap! ;D
* Canteen (see also "Drink Bottle")
o Cafeteria
* Car park
o Parking lot, parking garage
* Cheeses:
o Cheddar
+ American white is the closest
o Mild tasty
+ Mild cheddar
o Tasty
+ Sharp cheddar
* Chemist, Pharmacy
o Drug store, pharmacy
* Cheque
o Check (only difference is spelling)
* Chipboard
o Pasteboard
* Chips
o French fries
* Chips, potato chips
o Potato chips
* Chockers, chocker block
o Full (of food)
* Chook
o Chicken
* Chunder, chuck
o Vomit, spit-up (babies)
* Chuck
o Spit-up (babies)
* Coat
o Jacket
* Cobber ... this is an English term, not Australian!
o Friend
* Cordial
o Kool Aid
* Cot
o Crib
* Cotton bud
o Q-tip, cotton bud
* Couch
o Sofa
* Cuppa
o When an Aussie says he/she is having a cuppa and a bickie, it usually means a cup of tea and a cookie, not to be confused with an American biscuit.
* Cutlery
o Silver, silverware, flatware
* Dacks, duds
o Trousers, pants
* Dag
o A funny or silly person, a goof, a nerd, or a loser. The true meaning of the word "dag" is actually quite derogatory, i.e. "bits of manure that stick to the long wool around a sheep’s butt". It’s usually said in a friendly manner though!
* Dead horse (Aussie rhyming slang for sauce)
o Ketchup
* Deli
o Delicatessen
* Dero
o Derelict, bum, hobo (although deros don’t usually move around as far as I’m aware)
* Dimwit, Drongo
o A dope, a silly or stupid person, person with low intelligence
* Divan
o Sofa bed
* Dong
o Hit, i.e. dong someone on the head = hit them on the head
* Donk
o Car engine
* Donkey’s years
o A lot time, ages
* Doona, continental quilt
o Comforter or Duvet
* Down under
o Australia, but also used to refer to the Southern Hemisphere in general
* Dressing gown
o Robe
* Drink bottle
o Canteen
* Drongo, dimwit
o A dope, a silly, awkward or stupid person, person with low intelligence
* Dry Biscuit
o Cracker
* Dud
o Lemon, something that doesn’t work
* Duds, dacks
o Trousers, pants
* Duffer
o Goose, silly person, i.e, "You silly duffer", also cattle stealer or rustler
* Dummy
o Pacifier
* Dunny, loo, toilet, throne (also referred to as "the office")
o Toilet
* Dutch Oven
o A large pot with a lid, made of cast iron, which is used for cooking on an open fire. Also used to describe the action of your hubby passing flatulence then pulling the covers over your head. Remind me never to marry THAT man!! ;D
* Earbasher
o Someone who talks incessantly never letting the other person get a word in edgewise, who usually bores everyone to tears
* Earbashing (i.e. I copped an earbashing)
o To be told off repeatedly about doing something wrong until you know in no uncertain terms exactly what that something is/was!! lol
* Elbow grease
o Hard work, i.e. "Put some elbow grease into it" means to put more effort into it, work harder.
* Esky
o Cooler, i.e. an insulated rectangular box with a lid used to store drinks and food in to keep them cool in summer. Most people also put ice in them or freezer blocks to ensure everything stays cold.
* Face washer or just washer, flannel
o Wash cloth
* Fag
o Cigarette
* Faggot
o A nasty name for a gay man. This is one term I really hate, so if you’re ever chatting to me you simply won’t use it!!
* "Fair dinkum?"
o "Oh really?"
* Fair crack of the whip, fair go
o To give someone the same chance you have, the same opportunities or to treat them as you’re treated
* Fairy Floss
o Cotton Candy
* Fed up to the back teeth
o Describes someone who’s had enough or is totally disgusted about something, they’re fed up with it, up to the back teeth meaning how high up "it" goes. Does that make sense? lol Some people will also say they’re "fed up to here" and place their hand horizontally across part of their face, like they were chopping into their face, indicating how high up they’re fed up with it. Did THAT make sense? Oh I give up!! ROTFL
* Flake
o I haven’t heard of it over here, but it’s shark meat which has been battered and deep fried and is the "fish" in "fish and chips" ... a favourite of most Aussie families.
* Flat, unit
o Apartment
* Flat out like a lizard drinking
o Very busy!
* Flog
o To beat someone/something, or to sell something. In England they have "Flog It!" which is a TV show where people auction what they thought were useless bits around the house but have found out they’re actually quite valuable! Hubby and I love that show!!
* Footpath
o Sidewalk
* Fridge
o Refrigerator
* Fringe
o Bangs
* From go to whoa
o From start to finish
* Fussed
o Worried, i.e. "I’m not fussed". Hubby has started using this term, probably to get me back for all the times he asked me something and I said "I’m not fussed!" ... payback’s a bitch ain’t it? ROTFL
* Galah
o A pink and grey bird native to Australia. Also used affectionately to describe someone as silly or foolish
* Gaol (an old English term), prison
o Jail, prison
* Garage sale
o Yard sale, rummage sale, garage sale
* Garbo
o Man who collects the trash bins usually once or twice a week from outside your home
* Garage sale
o Yard sale
* Gas (LPG - automotive)
o Gas
* Give way (road sign)
o Yield
* Googie, googie egg
o An egg. This term is usually used by children, Lauren is no exception, she says "Googie" too! ;D
* Grouse
o Great, terrific, really good
* G-string
o Thong (don’t mix THIS one up in the US or you’ll get very funny looks!! lol)
* Gumboots
o Galloshes
* Gum tree
o Eucalyptus tree (technically, Americans are right!)
* Happy as a pig in mud, happy as a pig in "poo" (you know the word I mean! ;D)
o Very happy
* Have a gander
o Have a look
* Have a turn
o Host a party
* Hi
o Yo
* Hire car
o Rental, rental car
* Holden
o The first all-Australian car was made by General Motors Holden. Made in 1948, the Holden FX was a very nice car and it’s now very sought after by car enthusiasts. Following soon after, the FJ was produced in 1953-1956 and is probably the most sought after by people wanting to rebuild old cars in Australia.
* Hoof it
o To walk rather than drive etc.
* Hooroo!
o Goodbye
* Hotdogs
o Weiners
* House
o Single family house, detached house
* Hum dinger
o Really good, i.e. it was a hum dinger of a movie
* Hungry Jack’s
o Burger King
* Icy pole
o Popsicle
* Idiot box, boob tube, telly, tv
o Television
* In the boonies
o In the middle of nowhere, back of bourke, out in the sticks, other side of the black stump.
* Jam
o Jelly
* Joe Bloggs
o The "average" man on the street so to speak
* Jumper
o Sweater
* Kark it, kick the bucket
o To die
* Keen as mustard
o Enthusiastic. Keen is a brand of mustard in Australia! ;D
* Kick in the teeth
o A setback
* Kick the bucket, kark it
o To die
* Kindy
o Kindergarten
* Knee high to a grasshopper
o Short, obviously very! lol
* Knickers
o Undies, panties, ladies underwear
* Knockers
o Breasts, boobs
* Ladybird
o Ladybug
* Larrikin
o Rowdy, irresponsible, rascal. Refers to a man or a boy
* Late (i.e. late to school)
o Tardy
* Layby
o Layaway
* Lead foot
o Fast driver, i.e. foot of lead always pressing down heavily on the accelerator
* Lemonade
o Soda, Soda pop
* Lift
o Elevator
* Lingo
o Language
* Lob in, lob on up
o Drop in to see someone, usually without calling beforehand because a mate told you to "just lob on up" to his place! ;D
* Local rag
o Local newspaper
* Lolly, lollies
o Candy
* Lollypop man/woman, Candy striper
o A person who supervises a school crossing to ensure the kids are safe crossing the roads
* Loo, dunny, toilet, throne (also referred to as "the office")
o Bathroom, restroom
* Lounge, loungeroom
o Living room
* Love bite
o Hickey
* Macca’s
o McDonald’s
* Maggie
o Magpie, a black and white Australian bird similar to a crow but smaller. These are pests in the country where they often eat crops although crows are more of a pest
* Make a quid
o Earn some money
* Make tracks
o Leave i.e. "It’s time to make tracks" = it’s time to leave
* Manchester
o Linen, i.e. sheets, towels etc.
* Mate ... a vague description given to someone of the male persuasion, probably begun because we couldn’t remember their name! lol
o Guy
* Metho
o Short for metholated spirits which is an alcohol type substance used for various purposes like disinfecting skin, some cleaning purposes and also refers to a type of bum who drinks the stuff ... ew yuck!!
* Milk and sugar
o Cream and sugar
* Milk bar
o Shoppette
* Mince or Ground Beef
o Ground Beef or Sausage
* Misery guts
o Someone who complains constantly and creates misery wherever they go
* Mobile
o Cellular (Cell) or Wireless
* Moe
o Moustache
* Moo juice
o Cow’s milk
* Morning and afternoon tea
o Rarely exists ... a snack between meals
* Mozzie
o Mosquito
* Mudguard
o Fender
* Mug
o Cup (for coffee)
* Mum
o Mom (spelling and pronunciation are the only differences)
* Mushie
o Mushroom
* Mystery bags, snags
o Sausages. Referred to as mystery bags because it’s really a mystery what goes into them! ;D
* Nappy
o Diaper
* Never never (see second definition under "Put something on the never never" below)
o A desert area in the Northern Territory.
* Nick off
o Go away
* Nick out
o Make a quick trip out to somewhere, i.e. the milkbar
* Nifty
o Neat, as in a nifty trick is a neat trick. I can’t think of a better way to describe that one, sorry! Also stylish
* Nightie, Nightgown
o Gown
* Nightshirt
o Sleepshirt
* Noggin
o Head (on your shoulders!)
* Ocka, ocker
o Similar to a redneck from what I’m told! lol A lazy, good for nothing, beer drinking Aussie male who has no culture or style and sits in front of the telly all day drinking beer!
* Octopus straps
o Bungee cords
* Off the beaten track
o Away from main roads, on dirt tracks or seldom used roads
* Oldies
o Parents
* On the nose
o Smelly, offensive. Also to describe that you’re correct, i.e. right on the nose
* Onya
o Short for "good on you"
* Out in the sticks
o In the middle of nowhere, back of bourke, in the boonies, other side of the black stump.
* Pack a wallop
o To punch someone very hard
* Paddock
o Corral
* Paper bag
o Sack
* Peak hour (traffic)
o Rush hour
* Petrol, fuel
o Gas
* Petrol Station, Servo
o Gas Station
* Pinafore, overalls (with bib and brace)
o Jumper
* Plain flour
o All purpose flour
* Plonk
o Cheap booze, usually wine
* Pom or Pommie (used affectionately!)
o Englishman, British
* Postcode
o Zip code
* Potato gems
o Tater tots (I know there’s another one but can’t for the life of me remember what it is, grrrrrrr!!)
* Prawn
o Shrimp
* Prang
o Motor accident
* Preggers
o Pregnant
* Pub
o Saloon, bar
* Pusher, pram, stroller
o Stroller
* Put something on the never never
o Use a credit card (see "never never" above)
* Quack
o A bad doctor. Sometimes people refer to their "usual" doctor as a quack, in which case it’s used in a kind of affectionate way
* Queue
o Line
* Quid, quids
o Money, lots of money
* Rack off
o Go away, usually said in anger
* Razoo
o A fictitious coin made of brass, usually referred to when we’re broke, i.e. "I don’t have a brass razoo to my name."
* Repeat (of TV show)
o Rerun
* Rice bubbles
o Rice crispies
* Ridgy didge
o The real thing
* Rock Melon (if you live in Queensland), for the rest of the country, Canteloupe
o Canteloupe
* Round-a-bout
o Traffic circle
* Rubber
o Eraser. Not to be confused with a condom!! lol
* Rubbish, rubbish bin
o Trash, trash can
* Runners
o Sneakers, Tennis shoes
* Scarce as hen’s teeth
o Rare, very hard to find
* Scone (pronounced "skon", not "skown")
o Biscuit (often served with gravy ... yuk! lol)
* Sheila
o An Australian female, regardless of her name! ;D
* Sickbay
o Nurse’s Office
* Silverside or Corned Beef
o Corned Beef
* Skim milk, fat reduced milk
o 2% milk (and variations)
* Skint
o Broke, poor, don’t have any money whatsoever
* Slag
o Spit
* Snag, mystery bag (see "mystery bag" above)
o Sausage
* Soft drink
o Soda
* Sparky
o Electrician
* Spit the dummy, chuck a wobbly
o Throw a tantrum, basically
* Supper
o That’s what they call their dinner too. In Australia often means a snack before bedtime
* Take away
o Take out
* Tea
o Dinner
* Telly, idiot box, tube
o TV, television
* Teat (on a baby’s bottle)
o Nipple
* Terrace house
o Townhouse (usually 3 storey)
* Thongs
o Flip flops
* Tim Tam
o Yummmmmmmm!!! Made by Arnott’s Biscuits, Tim Tams would have to be the most loved biscuit in Australia! To call them a cookie would be a crime, so go look up the term "biscuit" if you’re not sure what I mean! lol They’re layers of chocolate and wafers wrapped lovingly in a layer of chocolate ... and I can’t get them here unless I want to pay heaps, boo! hoo! hoo!
* Toffee Apples
o Candy Apples, also Caramel Apples
* Tomato sauce
o Ketchup
* Torch
o Flashlight
* Tracksuit pants
o Sweat pants {what can I say, they’re obsessed with sweat! }
* Ugh (Ugg) Boots
o Similar to the shoes worn by American Indians, Ugh boots are a soft boot made of lambswool inside, suede outside and are "native" to Australia! ;D To see one GO HERE where you will note they’re quite expensive!! They’re Australian prices by the way! ;-)
* Ute
o Pick Up Truck
* Vegemite
o I’ve been asked by many people to describe Vegemite and it’s almost impossible!! It’s a yeast extract spread which is rich in B complex vitamins and is black and has a very strong taste. It’s a love/hate thing with Vegemite ... you either love it or you hate it!! ;D
* Wag school
o Skip school, truant
* Wardrobe
o Closet
* Wendy’s
o Baskin Robbins (31 flavours)
* Wind (causing the need to burp)
o Gas
* Windcheater
o Sweatshirt
* Woolies
o Short for Woolworths, a very popular store in Australia
* Last, but not least, and most well known of all ... GIDDAY!
o Hi! ... doesn’t have the same impact, does it?