THOSE TRUE BLUE AUSSIE PHRASES I LOVE
As I mentioned in my post on Monday, Australia is a law unto itself when it comes to our use (abuse) of the English language. For Five Things Friday I wanted to share five of my favourite Aussie slang expressions. The only trouble was condensing it down to just five! (I cheated and added a few extras as an addendum) I also noticed that there were several versions of the first expression - obviously we have an abundance of nutty people in Australia!1. A FEW SNAGS SHORT OF A BARBIE
Example: Don't bother explaining it - he won't understand coz he's a few snags short of a barbie.
Also: a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock; a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic; a few lamingtons short of a CWA meeting.
2. BOB'S YOUR UNCLE
Meaning: if you do this (whatever is said first) it will work or be all right. Basically it is guaranteed to work out.
Example: Just add some extra water and Bob's your uncle.
3. DRY AS A DEAD DINGO'S DONGER
Example: I would kill for a cold drink, my throat's as dry as a dead dingo's donga!
4. CHUCKING A SICKIE
Example: I am chucking a sickie and going to the footy.
5. LOOKING LIKE A STUNNED MULLET
Meaning: looking surprised, bewildered, uncomprehending. You have no idea what's going on or what they're talking about.
Example: When she said no, he looked like a stunned mullet.
Example: When she said no, he looked like a stunned mullet.
AND HERE'S A FEW MORE
A few others I love are "Don't get your knickers in a knot" (don't stress), "Mad as a cut snake" (really angry and upset), "His blood's worth bottling" (he's a great guy), "You've got Buckley's" (you don't stand a chance), "It's gone walkabout" (it's lost).
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these are simply hilarious and very descriptive, Leanne! (Sorry we missed you on BSL). Terri Webster Schrandt from Blogger's Pit Stop
ReplyDeleteHi Terri - they make me smile - I love our Ockerisms and I don't think you can match them anywhere else in the world. :)
DeleteHi Leanne I'm wondering what our overseas friends will make of our 'lingo'. I haven't heard of 'dry as a dead dingo's donger' I took a second take at that one! Happy Australia Day.
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested to find out too Sue - my mum was a great advocate of the dead dingo expression - and she was such a well brought up young lady - obviously something slipped somewhere :)
DeleteWe need some of those here in the States, Leanne! We do use "a few sandwiches short of a picnic", or at least, I do. I wonder if we got it from you or you got it from us. Thanks for the Friday smile. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI love how expressions like this have their own metamorphosis depending on the country they're in Alana - we obviously barbeque more often than we picnic :)
DeleteI love these! Sayings SAY so much about a people! These are delightful!
ReplyDeleteThey make me smile Diane and I thought you guys would enjoy hearing (reading) them too x
Deletewe've got "a few cards short of a deck" here on the east coast of the U.S.--but that's not as much fun as a few snags on the barbie.
ReplyDeleteI love the phrases different cultures come up with. When my daughter was in Berlin for a year, she learned a German expression that translates roughly as My nose is full. American version: I've had it up to here.
thanks for sharing the aussie sayings. enjoyed them.
Every country has its own variations - my nose is full made me smile. It's like the Polish one of "not my circus, not my monkey" that I have taken ownership of. Australians are reknown for their smart comments and slang :)
DeleteI never heard any of these except the knickers in a knot one. I love them all! I can't wait to start using a few of them:)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
Have fun with them Doreen - although you'll probably end up getting a few strange looks along the way!
DeleteThese are hilarious! I love them.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to drop one into conversation now and then and see what happens :)
DeleteLove hearing sayings from other parts of the world. We have a couple in Texas that are similar - "mad as an old wet hen" and "knickers in a twist". Thanks for sharing at Over the Moon.
ReplyDeleteI love them too Shelley - quaint sayings always bring a smile and a "where did that come from" moment :)
DeleteI used the "dry as a dead dingo's donger" at a work conference in Sydney and my boss who was from South Africa was gob smacked. He and the eastern states delegates all jumped to the wrong conclusion regarding the donger part of the dingo's anatomy. p.s I am Leanne's proud mum.
ReplyDeleteI love these, Leanne, especially dry as a dead dingo's donga. It has a certain ring to it.
ReplyDelete