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.
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