Australians speak Aussie English, or "strine" says Bob Roo!

The Fair Dinkum Dictionary!

G’DAY!

Australians (Aussies) speak English.

But they don’t speak it like the English, the Scots, the Welsh or the Irish, or the Americans, the Canadians, the South Africans, the Indians or the Pakistanis. And they don’t speak it like anybody else on our planet that reckons they speak English.

Australians speak Aussie, sometimes called "Aussie Strine". You know, from the land of OZ, Down Under, Beyond the Back of Beyond.

Me and me mates have put together a little “Fair Dinkum Dictionary” for you. A sort of a ready reckoner of a few of our colourful words and sayings for you to have a squiz at and get your heads around our Aussie vernacular.

It’s not every single word or phrase we use (because there are hundreds). But we reckon it’s enough for you little blokes and sheilas to get a “heads up” and a “head start” on just what we Aussies are all rabbiting on about.

Here's to speaking “Strine”. BOB ROO

A

Aerial ping-pong Australian Rules Football.

After a fashion Average, so-so.

After darks (rhyming slang) Sharks.

Aggro Aggressive, angry, hostile.

Ain’t it the truth Expression of sympathy and agreement.

Airs and graces “Bunging on” an affected and haughty manner.

Airy-fairy Fanciful, vague.

All show Pretence, mere display.

Ancient history Facts well known or no longer relevant.

Anchors Brakes. (Slam on the anchors) Stop motion.

Apples All right, very well, okay.

Argue the toss Disagree, dispute a decision.

Arty crafty Pretentiously artistic.

Arvo Afternoon.

B

Babble Idle chatter.

Babbling brook (rhyming slang) Cook.

Back of beyond Australian outback.

Bad egg Dishonest, undesirable person.

Bad patch Awkward or unpleasant situation.

Bad penny Undesirable person who keeps returning.

Bag of bones Thin, skinny person.

Bag of fruit (rhyming slang) Suit.

Bangers Sausages.

Banjo Shovel or spade.

Barley Call for a truce.

Bickies Biscuits.

Blimey Exclamation of surprise or amazement.

Blue Fight, unfriendly argument.

Brumby Wild horse.

C

Cardie Cardigan.

China (rhyming slang) China plate – mate, friend.

Chook A domestic fowl.

Chrissie Christmas.

Clobber Clothing, equipment.

Cobber Friend, mate.

Codger Older eccentric fellow.

Cop Policeman.

Cop shop Police station.

Cossie Bathing costume.

Crust Livelihood, job.

Cuppa Cup of tea.

Curly Difficult to deal with, handle or solve.

Cut and dried Decisive, inflexible.

Cut the cackle Stop talking, be quite.

D

Dacks Trousers.

Dag Practical joker, odd or amusing person.

Damage Expense or cost.

Damper Outback bread cooked in a campfire

Dander Anger, fighting spirit (get your dander up).

Dead-set Truthful(ly) honest(ly).

Dekko Look at something, check it out.

Digger Returned servicemen, an Australian, friendly address among men.

Ding Minor accident between two vehicles.

Dinkum Genuine, real, authentic, can’t be faulted, the truth.

Dob on Tell on someone, inform, betray.

Donk Engine, especially for a car.

Drongo Stupid, dull witted, a fool.

Drum Accurate, authentic, profitable information or advice.

E

Earbash Talk incessantly, bore with tedious talk.

Earn a quid Earn money, work for a living.

Ease off/up Slow down, reduce pressure and tension.

Easy Having no firm preference, carefree.

Elbow grease Vigorous, hard work.

Elbow room Sufficient space to work or move in.

Elegant sufficiency Enough to eat.

Emma Chisit “Strine” for how much is it?

Empties Empty bottles.

Even stevens Even in competition, equal amounts when sharing.

Ever so Very, exceedingly.

Ever-so Ever-so Pompous, haughty, stuck up, snooty.

Every inch In all respects, totally, completely.

Every man and his dog The general public, many people.

F

Fair enough Statement of agreement, yes, all right

Fair go Appeal for fair treatment or reason.

Fair hike Long distance to travel.

Fashion plate Always dressed in the latest styles.

Fella/feller/fellow Man, person, bloke.

Fit to be tied Very angry.

FJ Australia’s collectors item, famous Holden car made from 1953 to 1956.

Flash Gaudy, showy, flamboyant.

Flash in the pan No lasting significance or importance.

Flick(s) Cinema film(s).

Fluke To do, gain or win by chance.

Folks People in general.

Footy Football, especially Aussie rules, usually pronounced with a “d” instead of “t”-Foody.

For the birds Trivial, of no consequence.

From go to whoa Beginning to end.

G

Gab Chatter, talk.

Galah Fool, ineffectual person.

Galah session Special interval on Flying Doctors radio service to allow people to gossip with neighbours who may live hundreds of kilometres away.

Gall Impudence.

Gadabout Person leading an active social life.

Gander Have a look.

Gawk Stare openly.

G’day Contraction of good day, a greeting.

Good on ya Expression of approval, encouragement.

Good-oh Expression of approval, satisfaction..

Goog An egg.

Grizzle Complain, whinge, fret noisily.

Grubber Cricket ball that goes along the ground.

Gun Worker- Especially a shearer or fruit picker who excels above everyone else.

H

Ham Actor who overacts.

Ham and eggs (rhyming slang) legs.

Hammer and tongs Great energy and enthusiasm.

Handfed Getting so much help that effort is not required.

Handful A troublesome person, task or thing.

Hard at it Completely involved, working diligently.

Harping Nagging.

Hat-trick In cricket, three wickets in three bowls, three identical achievements in a row.

Have a go Have a try, make an attempt.

Heap Dilapidated, broken down vehicle.

Heaps A lot, a large number of.

Heart The essence of emotion, thought, feeling affection and courage.

Hoick Lift, jerk or hoist abruptly.

Holus-bolus Completely, all of it, all at once.

Howzat? Hows that? An appeal for approval, admiration. In cricket an appeal for a dismissal.

I

I ask you! Expression of amazement, disbelief, surprise.

Ifs or buts Excuses.

In a huff Angry, sulky.

In a jiff/jiffy Quickly, in a very short time.

In one hit All at once.

In step In harmony.

In stitches Uncontrollable laughter.

In strife In trouble.

In the long run Eventually, finally, after all else.

In tow In attendance, following one around.

Invertebrate Person of little strength or character.

It and a bit Perfect, exceptional (often in a sarcastic sense) e.g. He thinks he’s it and a bit!.

It’s the done thing Socially acceptable.

I’ve had it Expression of complete frustration.

J

Jabber Idle talk, gossip.

Jack Man, bloke, guy fellow.

Jackeroo Apprentice worker on sheep or cattle station.

Jake Okay, all right, satisfactory, acceptable.

Jarmies Pyjamas, night dress.

Joe blake (rhyming slang) snake.

Joe Bloggs/Blow The average man in the street. Fictitious person used as an example.

Joey Baby kangaroo.

Joker Bloke, fellow, person.

Jumbuck A sheep

Jumpy Nervous, tense.

Just a mo/sec/tick Just a moment, second or tick of clock. Very short time.

Just around the corner Not very far away, close by.

Just not on Emphatic denial, refusal or expression of distaste.

Just quietly Between ourselves.

K

Kafuffle Commotion, row, upset, argument.

Kanga Kangaroo.

Keen as mustard Enthusiastic, eager.

Keep at it Persevere, persist, don’t give up.

Kelpie Australian sheep or cattle dog.

Kip A sleep or nap.

Klicks Kilometres.

Knock it off Stop it, be quite.

Know a thing or two Shrewd, well informed.

Know no bounds To go on endlessly, tirelessly.

Know what’s what Have good judgement.

Know-all Claims to know everything about a subject, usually doesn’t, and is irritating.

Knuckle down Apply oneself earnestly to a task.

Konk The nose.

L

Lacker band Elastic band, rubber band.

Lad Familiar term for any male. Daring, playful reckless man.

La-di-da Pretentious, snobby, posh.

Lair Flashy, show off, vulgar, show pony.

Lamp post Very tall, thin person.

Land of nod The state of sleep.

Land of plenty Easily obtained wealth and good fortuune.

Landed with Forced to accept unwillingly.

Lark Amusing incident, a prank.

Larrikin Hooligan, rowdy boisterous.

Lofty Nickname for an extremely tall or short man.

Look in Chance of success.

Lost cause Anything or person that has failed or is doomed to failure.

Lost me Caused me to lose faith or respect.

M

Maggies Magpies.

Malarky Nonsense, rubbish foolish talk.

Mallee Any isolated, unpopulated scrub or bushland.

Moo juice Milk.

Moolah Money.

Mouthful Long or difficult word or phrase.

Mozzie Mosquito.

Muck around Fool around, waste time.

Mug A person who is easily tricked.

Mug lair An obnoxious exhibitionist, public nuisance.

Mulga The bush, any remote back country.

Mushie Mushroom.

My! My! Expression of surprise often in smug or sarcastic manner.

My oath Expression of total agreement.

N

Nark Person who continually complains, nags and irritates.

Natter Talk, chat, gossip.

Nasty-pastie Despicable, bad tempered or mean person.

Nick off Depart, go leave.

Nick out To go somewhere for just a short time..

Nix Nothing, zero.

No probs No problems.

No such luck Unfortunately not.

Noggin The head.

Nosh Snack, food taken between main meals.

Not cricket Not fair, unjust.

Not fussed Not concerned or worried or caring about alternatives.

Nothing for it No other course of action or alternative.

Nous Common sense.

O

Obs Objections.

Offhand Casual. Unrehearsed, impromptu.

Offish Aloof, distant, haughty.

On and off Occasionally, sometimes.

On edge Irritable, nervous, anxious.

On the go Busy, active.

On ya! An expression of encouragement.

Oodles Large quantities.

Open slather Unrestrained activity and opportunity.

Out the back In the back yard.

Over the top Ridiculously excessive, exaggerated or unreasonable.

Own up Confess.

Oy! Call to gain attention.

Oz Australia, Land of Oz.

P

Pan Criticise, condemn.

Pea soup Thick fog.

Peanut gallery Public gallery, audience etc who are noisy, interjecting trouble makers.

Pegs Legs, teeth.

Poppet Affectionate term for a small child.

Prang Crash, accident in a car.

Prezzie Present, gift.

Pricey Expensive.

Props The legs.

P’s and Q’s Mind your manners and language.

Pushy Annoyingly overbearing, determined aggressive.

Put off Disconcerted, discouraged, disgusted.

Put on Assumed, false, pretence.

Q

Quid The sum of one pound before decimal currency.

Quids Lots of money.

Quick on the uptake Prompt action or response.

Quit it Be quiet, stop it.

R

Rack and ruin Destruction, neglect, dilapidation.

Racket Loud noise, commotion.

Rafferty’s rules No rules at all.

Rag Any local newspaper.

Ragbag Untidy, unkempt person.

Raise a bite To tease until you get a reaction.

Raise a laugh Create laughter in others.

Rank and file The ordinary people.

Raring to go Eager to begin.

Rattle Disconcert, confuse, worry agitate.

Raw Inexperienced, unskilled.

Razzoo Money.

Razz Criticize, tease.

Really? Is that so, true?.

Red-faced Blushing with embarrassment.

Rellies Relatives.

Rich Ridiculous, preposterous.

Rough it Make do without ordinary comforts or conveniences.

Row Argument, dispute.

Rude Unfair, excessive, inconsiderate. e.g that price was a bit rude.

Runners Sandshoes, tennis shoes, sneakers.

Run-in Argument, dispute, row, disagreement.

Rusty Out of practise.

S

Sack Dismissal, termination of employment.

Salvos Members of the Salvation Army.

Sandwich short of a picnic Lacking in intelligence.

Sanger Sandwich.

Sauce Impudence, cheek Also fair suck of the sauce bottle.

Scoff Eat greedily.

Scone The head.

Scorcher Very hot day.

Scrap Brawl, dispute, fight.

See eye to eye Agree, hold the same opinions.

See it out/through Continue, complete, don’t give up.

Semi Semi-trailer, large transport truck. Semi-final sports event.

Serve A severe rebuke, reprimand.

Set up shop Start a business.

Shame A regrettable or unlucky occurrence. What a shame.

Sheila Girl, young woman.

Shellacking Sound beating or thrashing. Their team got shellacked

Scoff Eat greedily.

Shemozzle A state of confusion.

Shenanigan Nonsense, mischief.

Sheppard’s clock A kookaburra.

Shifty Deceitful, evasive.

Shilly shally Procrastinate, refrain from taking a course of action.

Shirty Angry, bad tempered, annoyed.

State of play Current position or situation.

Strewth Expression of surprise, amazement, indignation.

Strine Australian (supposed accent).

Stroppy Complaining, angry, bad tempered, difficult.

Stumps End of days play in cricket.

Suss Suspicious, distrustful.

Suss out Investigate

Switch off Lose interest in a subject or topic.

T

Ta Thanks.

Tacky Inferior taste or style. Shoddy in quality.

Tail gate Drive too close to the vehicle in front.

Take a squiz Have a look.

Take the rough with the smooth Tolerate the bad with the good.

Tale A lie, fib, fabrication.

Tall order Difficult requirement asked of someone.

Tanning A beating or defeat.

Tarp Tarpaulin.

Tassie Tasmania.

Tell me about it Expression of emphatic agreement.

Telly Television.

Terrific Very good, excellent.

The bee’s knees The best, ultimate, first class.

The big sticks The goalposts (Australian Rules football.

The boys Term of friendship among men.

The cat’s whiskers The best, ultimate, first class.

Thick as a brick Dull, stupid, slow witted.

Thingie/thingo Name for something that can’t be immediately remembered.

Togs Bathing suit, clothes.

Townie A person living in the city as apposed to a country person.

Truckie A truck driver.

Tucker Food.

Tucker-bag Any bag for carrying food.

Tucker-box Refrigerator or any container for food.

Tuckered-out Tired, exhausted.

Tummy Stomach.

Turn up Unexpected surprise or reversal of luck.

Tux Tuxedo, dinner jacket.

Twit Silly, foolish person.

Two-bob Before decimal currency, two shillings. Now used in a derogatory nature e.g mad/ silly as a two bob watch.

Two-bob lair Flashy, but cheap person.

U

Ug boot Boot made of sheepskin with the fleece on the inside lining.

Uh-oh Exclamation of surprised dismay, disappointment.

Um and ah To be indecisive.

Ump/umpie Umpire.

Umpteen Many, an indefinite, usually large amount.

Undies Underpants.

Uni University.

Up to scratch Satisfactory, meeting requirements.

Up with Having knowledge, informed.

Up with the crows Awake, arise early.

Upper-crust Posh, sophisticated, upper-class.

Uppish/uppity Arrogant, snobbish.

Ups and downs Good times and bad times.

Upset the apple-cart Throw into disorder, chaos, disturb, ruin.

V

Vee-dub Abbreviation of VW. The Volkswagon car.

Vee-eight (V8) Internal combustion engine with two banks of four cylinders in a V formation. Any car with such an engine e.g. He drives a V8.

Vegemite Popular, traditional dark brown vegetable extract spread that some Aussies love so much they actually take with them in jars when travelling overseas.

Vegies Vegetables.

Very funny Interjection expressing displeasure or that what has just occurred is not funny at all.

Vet Veterinary surgeon. War veteran.

VFL Victorian Football League (Australian Rules Football).

Vicious circle A situation where one difficult circumstance leads to another, making the original problem even worse.

Village idiot Well known fool.

Vinnies St Vincent de Paul, a charitable organization that manages second had stores for the needy.

Vote Suggest or propose e.g. I vote we all go together.

Vulture Unscrupulous person who preys on others for their own gain.

W

Wacker Crazy, zany, irrational, eccentric person.

Wag A humorous, amusing person. A practical joker.

Waffle To talk nonsense

Wagon Ones car or vehicle.

Wait hand and foot Do everything for someone, completely look after someone, pamper.

Wait up Remain awake (not going to bed) waiting for someone to return.

Wait-a-while Climbing wild vine (acacia colletioides) with thorns that trap the clothes or skin of passers-buy.

Waiting game Deferment of immediate action.

Wake up to yourself Adopt a more realistic, sensible attitude.

Walkabout An extended journey through a remote area made by an Australian Aboriginal wishing to experience or return to a traditional way of life and beliefs. A walking trip.

Walking disaster area Person prone to unlucky accidents.

Wallop Thrash, beat heavily.

Wally Stupid, foolish person.

Warm Getting close to what is sought.

Washer Face washer. Flannel used for washing the face.

Wasn’t born yesterday Smarter, shrewder than given credit for.

Wax (Children’s talk) take turns when kicking a football from end to end.

Way back Long time ago.

Wellies Wellington boots, gumboots.

Went for a sixer Fell heavily and clumsily.

What-cha-ma-call-it A term for something whose name you can’t immediately remember.

Whatnot Term for an unspecified object or thing you can’t immediately remember.

What’s the story? What’s the latest news or information.

What’s what? What is the true situation, position.

Whinge Complain, especially in an annoying way.

Whisker Very small margin, e.g. he won the race by a whisker.

Who cares? So what? What does it matter?.

Whopper Anything large or huge (fish, outrageous lie etc).

Who’s who The important influential people.

Wig-warmer A hat.

Willing horse Person who is a willing and capable worker.

Willy-Nilly At random, uncontrallably.

Willy-willy Gusty, spiralling wind.

Wise-crack Smart, witty, flippant remark.

Woop woop Any remote, backward, sparsely populated area.

Word/Word of honour Promise, assurance.

Words An angry exchange of speech, quarrel.

Wouldn’t read about it Expression of incredulity.

Writing on the wall Obvious signs of approaching trouble.

Wrung out Tired, exhausted, especially mentally.

X

XL Extra large in clothing size.

Xmas Christmas.

XXOO Symbols meaning kisses and hugs placed at the end of a letter.

XXXX A famous brand of Queensland beer.

Y

Yabber Talk, palaver, chatter.

Yabbie Small Australian freshwater crayfish.

Yachtie Yachtsman, one who owns and enjoys sailing a yacht.

Yakka Hard work, toil.

Yarn Story, a tale, reminiscence.

Yeah yeah Interjection of sarcastic, mocking disbelief.

Year in, year out Regularly, year after year.

Yobbo Uncouth ruffian, lout, unsophisticated fool.

Yonnie A stone, especially for throwing.

You beaut! Exclamation meaning excellent, wonderful.

You can’t talk Mocking rebuff to someone’s false moralism.

Youngie Child, young person.

Your not wrong An expression of total aqgreement.

Yummy Delicious, tasty.

Z

Zac/zack/zak A coin to the value of sixpence before decimal currency.

Zebra crossing Pedestrian crossing on a road with marked broad stripes.

Zeds Pertaining to sleep with ZZZ being the symbol for snoring.

Zigged, when one should have zagged An error. Moved one way when you should have moved another.

Zilch Nothing.

Zillion An unimaginable, large amount.

Zinger Anything excellent, admirable, exciting.

Zoot-suit Finest, best clothes, especially a mans best formal suit.