Dictionary of Australian Slang
A
Acca- Academic
(university-type!)
Aggro-
Aggressive
Agro- Australian icon,
children's TV puppet, made from a bathmat!
Alco/Alkie-
Alcoholic
Akubra-
Brand of hat
Amber Nectar/Amber Fluid-
Beer
Ambo- Ambulance or
Ambulance Officer
Ammo-
Ammunition
Ankle-biter-
Infant
ANZAC- Australian &
New Zealand Army Corps
Arvo-
Afternoon
Auntie- The Australian
Broadcasting Corporation or ABC (Channel 2)
Aussie salute- Using hand
to wave away annoying flies
B
B & S Ball- Ball held
for Bachelors and Spinsters, singles crowd, often held in the bush or
remote
location and often involving
copious amounts of alcohol and sometimes mud!
Back blocks- Outer
suburbs, beyond the city
Back of Bourke- Beyond
remote outback town in northern New South Wales;
used to describe
anywhere far
away
Baggy green- Term for the
Australian Test Cricket Cap
Bail- Depart or
leave
Bail Up- To rob or hold
up; bail someone up in the street for a chat
Bananabender- Person from
Queensland State (Queenslander)
Barbed wire-
Term for XXXX beer
Barbie- Barbecue, the
backyard barbie, an Australian institution!
Bargain- Exclamation
showing approval
Barney-
Argument,fight
Barrack- Cheer loudly for
your favourite footy team
Barra- Barramundi
fish
Barro-
Embarrassing
Bathers-
Swimsuit
Battler- Someone who
struggles to get by, financially, against the odds
Bean counter- An
accountant
Beanie- Woollen
hat
Beaut- Beautiful, good -
"You beaut!" (also 'Bewdy')
Bender- Heavy drinking
session
Berk- Idiot,
fool
Berko- Go berserk, mad,
crazy
Betcha- I bet
you!
Biffo- A fight
Big bikkies- Lots of
money
Big smoke- The
city
Big sticks- Australian
Rules football goal posts
Bignote- A
bighead
Bikie- Motorbike
rider
Bikkie-
Biscuit
Billabong-
Waterhole
Billy- Tin used to boil
water for tea, in the bush
Bingle- Car
accident
Bit of a brothel- A
mess!
Bities- Biting
insects
Bitser- Mongrel;'Bitser
this, bitser that!'
Bizzo-
Business
Black Stump- Non-specific
place in the outback
Blob- No runs in cricket-
'out for a blob'
Bloke- Man,guy
Blokey- Male domain,
male-orientated
Blotto- Drunk
Blow-in-
Newcomer
Blowie-
Blowfly
Bludger- Lazy
person
Blue- Argument,
fight
Blue Heeler- Term for an
Australian Cattle Dog
Blue swimmer- $10 note,
blue in colour
Bluey- A redhead! Or a
swag
Blundstones- Elastic-sided
work boots - 'Blunnies'
Boardies- Board shorts
(for surfing)
Boatie- Person into
sailing
Bonza- Great!
Boofhead-
Idiot
Boomerang- Scheme which
backfires on you; originating from the Aboriginal weapon
made
from a curved piece of wood which
returns when thrown in the air
Booze- Alcohol, normally
beer!
Booze bus- Police vehicle
used in Random Breath-Testing exercises
Booze cruise- Boat trip
along the river either stopping at various pubs
or offering plenty of
alcohol to
onboard passengers
Bottleshop- Liquor store,
off-licence
Bottleo-
Bottleshop
Bozo- Idiot
Brekkie-
Breakfast
Brissie- Brisbane,
Capital of Queensland (Also Brizzie)
Britney Spears- Rhyming
slang for beers - "Couple of Britneys, mate"
Brownnose- A creep or
crawler
Brumby- A wild
horse
Buckley's- No
chance!
Buck's night- Stag
party
Bum- Buttocks
Bunch of Fives-
Fist
Bundy- Dark rum from
Bundaberg, Queensland, sugar cane region
Bunyip- Mythical
Australian creature with a piercing cry
Burl- Attempt,
try
Bush- Outside the
city
Bushed- Tired
Bushie- Member of
Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade
Bushman's brekkie- To
have no breakfast!
Bushranger- Highwayman
(eg. Ned Kelly)
Bush Telegraph-
'Grapevine', word-of-mouth
Bush tucker- Food
gathered from nature, in the outback
Bushwalking- Hiking in
the bush
Bust a gut- Work
hard
C
Cab Sav- Cabernet
Sauvignon wine
Cabbie- Taxi
driver
Cack- A cackle, have a
laugh, or someone with a sense of humour!
Cadbury- A cheap drunk
(As in the Chocolate ad: " A glass and a half" )
Camo- Camouflage
clothing
Cancer stick- A
cigarette
Cas- Hospital Casualty
ward
Cask- Boxed wine in a
bladder
Castle- Cricket
stumps
Cheerio- Cocktail
sausage, also means 'goodbye'!
Cherry Ripe-
Chocolate-coated cherry bar
Chippy- A
Carpenter
Choof off- Leave,
depart
Chook- Chicken, term of
affection, 'Chooky'
Chrissie-
Christmas
Chuck- To throw, or be
sick
Chuck a spaz- Be angry
(Also 'chuck a mental')
Chuck a U-ie- Make a
U-turn
Chunder- Be sick,
vomit
Coathanger-
Nickname for Sydney Harbour Bridge
Cobber- Mate,
friend
Cockie- Cockroach or
Cockatoo
Coldie- An ice-cold
beer
Compo- Worker's
Compensation pay
Convo-
Conversation
Cooee- A call used to
find someone lost in the bush
Cool Bananas-
Everything's great, fine!
Cop out- Give up or
in
Cossie-
Swimsuit
Couch Potato- Person who
watches TV for long periods of time!
Country mile- A great
distance
Cow juice-
Milk
Crash- Go to sleep, often
at someone else's house!
Crash hot- Wonderful, the
best
Crim- Criminal
Croc-
Crocodile
Crock- Nonsense,
rubbish
Crook- Ill, sick (or
thief)
Croweater- Person from
South Australia
Crumblies- Elderly
parents
Cuppa- Cup of
tea
Cushie- To have it
easy
Cut lunch-
Sandwiches
D
Dag- Idiot, or
unfashionable person, wearing 'daggy' clothes / hairstyle
(from sheep poo stuck
to it's wool = dags)
Daks- Men's
trousers
Damper- Bread made from
flour and water on a campfire in the bush
Date roll- Toilet
paper
Dead horse-
Sauce
Deadbeat-
Tired
Deadcert- Definite,
certain
Deadhead-
Good-for-nothing person
Deadset-
Truthful
Dekko- Take a
look
Dero- Homeless person,
derilict, hobo
Didgeridoo- Aboriginal
musical instrument made from a hollowed log
Digger- Australian
soldier (usually WW1 vets)
Dill- Idiot
Dinkie-Di- Genuine,
honest
Dipstick- Stupid
person
Dob in- Inform on someone
(Dobber = Informant)
Doco-
Documentary
Docs-
Doctor Marten boots, popular in Australia especially amongst young
people
Doona- Duvet,
quilt
Doozey- Something nice or
pleasing
Down Under- Referring to
Australia or the South Pacific region
Drink-link- Cash
machine(ATM)- a source of cash for buying beers
Drizabone- Brand of
waterproof wax coat
Drongo- Idiot
Duck- No runs in
cricket
Duck's dinner- Drink of
water, with nothing to eat
Duds- Trousers
Dunny- Toilet, referring
to the old outdoor unplumbed variety
E
Earbash- Non-stop
chatter
Ekka-
Exhibition
Esky- Insulated cooler
box
Exsie-
Expensive
F
Face Fungus- Moustache or
beard
Fair dinkum- Good,
honest, truthful
Fair go- Reasonable
chance
Fairy bread- Children's
party food favourite - bread and butter with 100's & 1000's on
top
Fam- Family
Fang- Snack,
lunch
Fang Carpenter-
Dentist
Fang it- Drive fast
(inspired by Fangio)
Farnarkel- Mess around,
talk rubbish
Feed- Meal
Fess up- Confess, own
up
Fireie- Fire
fighter
Five-finger discount- Act
of shoplifting
Flannie- Flannelette
shirt
Fleabag- Term for the
family dog (non-pedigree)
Floater- Meat pie served
with mushy pea soup
Folkie- Person into Folk
music scene
Foodie- Person interested
in fine foods
Footie- Regional term for
either Australian Rules Football, or Rugby League or Union!
Fossil- Geriatric, old
person
Franger-
Condom
Freddo Frog -
Small frog-shaped chocolate bar for children
Freebie- Something that
costs nothing
Freshie- Freshwater
crocodile
Fruit loop-
Idiot
Full-on- Expression of
approval or surprise; intense
Furniture- Cricket
stumps
Furphy- Rumour or
lie
G
G'day-
Greeting, hello! (good day to you!)
Gabba-
Queensland Cricket Ground at Woolloongabba
Galah-
Noisy, rude person, like the squawking bird
Garbo-
Garbageman, refuse collector, bin-man
Germ-
An obnoxious person
Gerrie-
Geriatric, old person
God botherer-
Religious fanatic (of the door-to-door variety!)
Goodonyermate!-
Good for you, well done!
Good call-
Well done!
Good nick-
Good condition
Goog-
Egg
Goonie-
Cheap cask wine
Gowings- Sydney Men's
Department store
Green & gold-
Australian sport national team colours
Green can-
Term for VB beer
Greenie-
Environmentalist
Grog-
Alcohol
Grog shop-
Licensed outlet selling alcohol
Grommet-
Young surfer
Grotty-
Run-down, dirty
Grouse-
Very good, cool!
Grumblebum-
Complainer
Guernsey-
Win approval (to get a guernsey)
Gumby-
Idiot
Gumsucker-
Person from Victoria State
Gurgler-
Plughole
Gusunda-
Potty, "Goes under" the bed
Gutser-
To "come a gutser" ie. to fail through poor judgement
Gyno-
Gynaecologist
H
Half your luck!-
Congratulations!
Hard yards-
Hard work, training
Heart-starter-
First alcoholic drink of the day, somtimes first
cigarette
Heave-
To vomit
Holy-dooly-
Expression of suprise (also Hooley Dooley)
Hoo-roo-
Goodbye
Hoon-
Loudmouth, to drive recklessly!
Horses hoof-
Poof/Homosexual
Hostie-
Air hostess, flight attendant
Hotel-
Pub, with or without accommodation
Humpy-
Temporary home in the bush
I
Icypole-
Frozen lolly
Idiot box-
Television
Illywhacker-
A con merchant
Irrits-
To be annoyed
J
Jackaroo-
Cattle or Sheep Station-hand
Jaffa-
Orange-flavoured chocolate ball, with hard orange coating,
Traditionally rolled down the cinema aisle!
Jaffle iron-
Camping tool, used to make a toasted sandwich
Jillaroo-
Female Cattle or Sheep Station-hand
Jocks-
Mens underpants
Joe Blow-
Mr. Average
Joey-
Baby Kangaroo
Jolly green giant-
$100 note, green in colour
Journo-
Journalist
Jumbuck-
Young sheep
Just joshin'-
Just kidding
K
Kark it-
Die
Kindy-
Kindergarten
Kiwi-
A New Zealander
Knock-
Criticise
Knuckle sandwich-
A punch, bunch of fives
L
Lamington-
Small square of sponge cake covered in chocolate icing, and dessicated
coconut
Larrikin-
Playful person
Lay-by-
Store system of paying for goods in instalments
Lingo-
Language
Lippie-
Lipstick
Liquid laugh-
Vomit
Liquid lunch-
Drinking beer at lunchtime
Lobster-
$20 note, red in colour
Lolly-
Sweets, candy
Longneck-
Tall bottle of beer, 750ml or 26oz
Lucky Country-
Nickname for Australia
Lurk-
Illegal practice, dodge, racket
Lush-
An attractive person
M
Maccas-
A well-known fast-food chain
Mag-
To 'have a mag', have a chat
Maggot bag-
Meat Pie
Mainlander-
Person from Australian mainland to a Tasmanian
Manchester-
Linen
Mate-
Friend, used instead of someone's name!
Mates rates-
Discount rates given to friends
Meat Pie-
Rhyming slang for a try in Rugby
Metho-
Methylated Spirits
Middy-
Glass of beer, 285ml or 10oz, in NSW/ACT & WA
Milko-
Person who delivers milk
Mollydooker-
Left-hander
Moon tan-
Pale-skinned person
Mozzie-
Mosquito
Muck-up day-
Last day of High School, a day of pranks and mischief!
Mullet-
Idiot
Muso-
Musician
Mystery bag-
Meat pie
N
Narky-
Upset, moody
Neato-
Excellent
Never Never-
Remote outback place or term for hire purchase agreement
No worries!-
It's OK, everything's fine!
Nong-
Idiot
Norks-
Breasts
Nude nut-
Bald head, or very short haircut
Nut ducker-
Person who pretends not to see you in the street!
O
O.S.-
Overseas
Ocker-
A Yob, common person
Old Cheese-
Mother
Old Girl-
Mother
Old Lady-
Wife
Old Man-
Father
Olds/Oldies-
Parents
On the nose-
Smelly
Onya-
Good for you!
Osteo-
Osteopath
Outback-
Remote bush location
Oz-
Nickname for Australia
P
Pash-
Kiss, 'Pash-on'
Patsy-
Scapegoat
Pav-
Pavlova-Australian desert; a meringue base with fruit and cream
topping
Pavement pizza-
Vomit
Perve-
Lustful gaze
Petrolhead-
Car enthusiast
Piccy-
Picture
Piker-
Bore, party pooper: 'Pike out'-To leave the party early!
Pineapple-
$50 note, yellow in colour
Pinnie-
Pinball machine
Play sillybuggers-
Waste time, mess around
Plonk-
Cheap wine
Plonko-
Wine addict
Pokies-
Poker machines, slot or fruit machines
Pollie-
Politician
Pommie-
Term used to describe an English person
Port-
Suitcase
Postie-
Person who delivers mail
Pot-
Glass of beer, 285ml or 10oz, in QLD & VIC
Pozzie-
Position, seat
Preggers-
To be pregnant
Prezzie-
A present, gift
Pullie-
Pullover, sweater, jumper
Pushie-
Pushbike, bicycle
Pyro-
Pyromaniac
Q
Queensland Nut-
Macadamia nut
Quids in-
To be 'in the money', usually a sign of success or a win
R
R.S.L.-
Returned Services League-Social club, good place to play pool or have a
counter lunch
Rabbit-
An idiot
Rabbit's ears-
Indoor television aerial
Racehorse-
Thinly-rolled cigarette
Rack off-
Go away, get lost!
Rafferty's Rules-
Having no rules
Rage-
To party on
Railway tracks-
Braces on teeth
Rammies-
Trousers
Rapt-
Pleased
Rattler-
A train
Redback-
$20 note, red in colour
Rego-
Registration
Rellies-
Relatives
Retread-
Person who returns to work after retiring
Ridgy-didge-
Genuine, honest
Ring-in-
An outsider, non-local or regular at a club or pub
Rip-snorter-
An excellent thing
Ripper-
Great!
Rissole-
Nickname for an RSL Club
Road-train- Long semi-trailer used to transport livestock over great
distances
Roids-
Steroids
Rollie-
Hand-rolled cigarette
Roo-
Kangaroo
Root-
To have intercourse
Rottie-
Rottweiler dog
Rubber-necker-
Tourist or nosey person
Rugged up-
Dressed in warm clothes
Rugrat-
Crawling baby
S
Salad Dodger-
Overweight person
Saltie-
Saltwater Crocodile
Salvo-
Salvation Army worker
Sandgroper-
Person from West Australia State
Sanger-
Sandwich
Sarky-
Sarcastic
Schoolies' Week-
End-of-school parties, especially held at the Gold Coast;
usually =
fun/trouble!
Schooner-
Glass of beer, 425ml in NSW/ACT,NT & WA
Scratchie-
Instant lottery ticket
Semi-
Semi-trailer
Seppo-
American (Septic tank = yank)
Servo-
Service, gas station
Sheila-
General slang term for an Aussie female
Shoot through-
Leave (especially husband walking out on wife)
Shout-
Round of beer/drinks
Shrapnel-
Small change, coins
Shufti-
Have a look
Sickie-
Paid day off work, usually not due to illness; "I'm gonna chucka sickie
tomorra"
Singlet-
Sleeveless t-shirt or vest
Slab-
Tray of beer, usually 24 cans
Sleep-out-
Rear porch of house converted to extra bedroom
Smoko-
Workbreak, to have a cigarette, or cup of tea/coffee
Snag-
Sausage
Snakey-
Irritable
Sook-
Crybaby
Spag Bog/Bol-
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Sparrow's fart-
Dawn
Special-
Discounted item in a store
Speedos-
Men's swimming pants
Spewing-
Very upset, really mad! (also vomit)
Spit the dummy-
Uncontrollably upset
Spunky-
Good-looking,'hot'!
Sprogs-
Offspring, children
Squiz-
Have a look at
Station-
Large outback farm
Stickybeak-
Nosey person
Stinger-
Box jellyfish
Stormstick-
Umbrella
Straight-up-
Truthful, honest
Strife-
Trouble
Struth-
Exclaimation "Struth mate!" from God's truth
Stubbies-
Men's shorts or bottles of beer
Stubby Holder-
Insulated holder to keep beer cool
Stuffed-
Worn out, tired
Sucked in-
Duped, conned
Sunnies-
Sunglasses
Swan a trip-
All-expenses paid trip, common amongst politicans!
T
T.A.B.-
Totalisator Agency Board - betting shop
Tall poppy-
Successful person in a particular field
Tanti-
Tantrum
Tassie-
Tasmania
Techie-
Technician
Technicolour Yawn-
To vomit
The Alice-
Alice Springs
The Gong-
Wollongong
Thingie-
To be sensitive or in an odd mood
Thingo-
The word you substitute the name of something or someone you've
forgotten!
Thongs-
Rubber sandals, flip-flops
Thunderbox-
Toilet
TimTam-
Chocolate sandwich biscuit, coated in chocolate. YUM!
Tinnie-
Can of beer, or aluminium boat
Tinnie fish-
Beer drunk (caught!) on a fishing trip
Toey-
Nervous
Togs-
Swimsuit
Tomato-
Cricket ball
Top-ender-
Person who lives at the top end of the Northern Territory
Trackie-daks-
Tracksuit trousers
Treadly-
Bicycle
Troppo-
Slighty mad, from being in the sun too long
Truckie-
Truck driver
True blue-
Genuinely Australian
Tub-
Bath, but also refers to shower
Tucker-
Food
Tucker chute-
Mouth
Twisties-
Cheese-flavoured twist-shape crisps
Two-up-
Gambling game involving throwing two coins in the air from a
holder
U
U-ie-
U-turn
Uggies-
Ugg boots-sheepskin boots or slippers (UGly! 'daggy'!)(surf boots
in Westcoast USA)
Undies-
Underwear
Unit-
Flat, condominium
Unreal!-
Excellent!
Up yourself-
Inflated ego
Ute-
Utility van with tray top, used by tradesmen (pick-up truck)
V
Vegemite -
Yeast spread; An acquired taste, useful hangover cure!
Veg out-
Relax, lie like vegetables (usually in front of the TV!)
Vegies-
Vegetables
Vego-
Vegetarian
Vinnie's-
St. Vincent de Paul charity shop
Violet Crumble -
Chocolate-coated honeycomb bar
W
Walkabout-
Disappeared, gone on long walk
Westie-
Person from Western suburbs of Sydney
Wharfie-
Dock-worker
Whinge-
Complain (Usually of 'whingin' Poms'!)
Whole kit and
kaboodle- Got it all, everything's included
Windbag-
Chatterbox or moaner
Windies-
West Indian Cricket Team
Wing nut-
Person with prominent ears
Wino-
Alcoholic (usually found drinking cheap cask wine)
Within cooee-
Close by, in hearing distance
Wog-
An illness, such as the flu
Woop Woop-
Back of beyond, middle of nowhere
Wowser-
Killjoy, party pooper
Wrinklie-
Old person
X
XXXX-
Pronounced "Four-ex" not "ex-ex-ex-ex!" Famous Qld beer
Y
Yabber-
Chat
Yabbie-
Crayfish
Yack-
Vomit
Yahoo-
Noisy, unruly person
Yakka-
Hard work
Yarn-
Have a chat, to tell a story
Yobbo-
Loudmouth, uncouth person
Yodel-
Vomit
You beaut-
Wonderful!
Yucko-
Something unpleasant
Yummo-
Something pleasant
Z
Zeds-
Sleep; 'stack some Zzzz's'
Ziff-
Beard
Zonked-
Exhausted
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