Australianisms

[korg20000bc]

There's been talk on another thread of how Aussie words and phrases are being replaced by a lot of Americanisms.

So here's a thread to list some of your favourites.

PLEASE DON'T copy and paste lists from other sites- post stuff that you've heard and who from- etc.

I'll start with a couple that I read in an Australian WW2 war diary:


Scattered all over the place like emu **** after lightning.

Scattered all over like a mad woman's ****.

Also, my dad used to yell at me "I'll brain you!" or sometimes "I'll crown you!"

[UncleHo]

My old man used to say, "Son, if your brains were dynamite it wouldn't blow a part in your hair" Just because I showed no interest in becoming a Chair & Cabinet Maker.

[vnx205]

One of my father's favourites was, "Starve the flamin' lizards".

It was used in the same sort of situations that might have provoked others to exclaim, "Stone the crows".

[Mick_Marsh]

Just had an American friend visit and experience real Australia.
He reckons he will be saying "I reckon" often when he gets home.

[AllTerr]

Just had an American friend visit and experience real Australia.
He reckons he will be saying "I reckon" often when he gets home.

"Reckon" is used quite a bit in the southern parts of the states. When I moved here, it really wasn't much of a stretch for me, as I grew up saying it :)


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[bsperka]

Uglier than a hatful of arseholes
Drier than a dead dingo's donger
Flat out like a lizard drinking
Stone the crows

[Stuck]

"In more trouble than a pregnant nun"

[korg20000bc]

She bangs like a dunny door in a storm...

[Disco Muppet]

"Pigs arse" is a favourite of my father in law.
"yeah nah"
"Mate" for serious situations.

[digger]

"As much use as a sore arse to a boundary rider"

dad used to use that one, often...

and when you think about it, its true!

"All over the place like a mad womans custard"

[korg20000bc]

As reliable as a two-bob watch.

[benji]

I once heard an account of a Europian academic who came to Australia to talk about culture. He proclaimed that Australia as a nation wasn't old enough to have a culture, one student stood up and yelled, pig's arse we don't, and walked out - thus this academic was proven quite wrong.

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[Alex 110]

Like tits on a bull
(Or) as much use as tits on a bull

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[Toxic_Avenger]

Don't tell people (especially yanks) that you like to wear thongs. :eek:

Likewise, you wont be understood if you you and your mate Davo go to the servo or bowlo of an arvo, and get into a biffo. You might need to call an ambo, then get your mug on the news interviewed by a journo. What would your relo's think?

I think Aussie slang is still alive and kicking.

[p38arover]

Scattered all over like a mad woman's ****.

Nah, it's "... like a mad woman's breakfast".

[UncleHo]

As crooked as a dog's hind leg.

Couldn't lie straight in bed.

[korg20000bc]

Nah, it's "... like a mad woman's breakfast".

It was a quote from the diary. Maybe they all got it wrong back in the 40's

I'll let them know
:)

[d2dave]

He disappeared faster than a fart in a fan factory.

[stealth]

A couple of my own

Never raise the sights on an old rifle.

We live in a complex and complicated world full of people intent on keeping it that way. I am not one of them. But I can show you where the bastard sits. (regularly used at work)

[mikehzz]

Fair dinkum.....I haven't heard some of these since my dad died. He'd be ****ting bricks hearing some of them.

[bob10]

" Never sucked the milk! "


" What are you going to do for a face, when King Kong wants his bum back "


" Strike me roan! "
Bob

[THE BOOGER]

Fair suck of the sav mate

gotta match yeh your face my bum

[THE BOOGER]

I can see bazza mac saying most of these:D:D

[B.S.F.]

If his brain was dynamite, it wouldn't blow his hat off.
Of fertile soil: You can stick a nail in the ground and grow a crowbar.

[jx2mad]

Useless as a hip pocket on a singlet

[Bigbjorn]

Dry as an Afghan's underpants.

****ed as three shearers.

[S3ute]

Hello from Brisbane.

My late father-in-law was a walking repository - "a blind man would be pleased to see it" followed every bush repair. "As useful as an ash tray on a motorbike" was a summary of the utility of most modern appliances. "Exercising the ferret" was a prelude to walking behind a tree. "You're dead an awful long time" was the equivalent of carpa diem.

Cheers,

[POD]

No-one has mentioned Kevin Rudd's attempt to identify with the commoners: (must be carefully enunciated in a private-school toffee-nosed voice) "Oh, come on, I mean, fair shake of the sauce bottle, mate."

[jx2mad]

blind as a bat

[jx2mad]

as mad as a cut snake

[djam1]

If I saw him laying in the gutter gasping for breath I wouldn't fart in his face.

[djam1]

Slip his foreskin up over his head and sew it up.

[djam1]

Does a one legged duck swim in circles?

[djam1]

I will be on you like a fat kid on a cupcake

[Bigbjorn]

I will be on you like a fat kid on a cupcake

.....like a priest on an altar boy.

.....like flies on a gin.

Unfortunately most of the best expressions used by my generation when young and by our parent's and grandparents are now regarded as racist, sexist, politically incorrect.

Those of us who are unrepentant will continue to use them and thus preserve our oral history.

[Bigbjorn]

No-one has mentioned Kevin Rudd's attempt to identify with the commoners: (must be carefully enunciated in a private-school toffee-nosed voice) "Oh, come on, I mean, fair shake of the sauce bottle, mate."

Ummm, Kev went to Nambour State High and country state high schools don't rate on the social ladder. In fact, few city ones do.

[85 county]

stands out like dogs balls on a cricket bat.

shes so fat she should be twins

[Hoges]

Many years ago we welcomed a new bloke to the office. He'd been a member of the early Training Team in Vietnam. He'd seen " a lot" and was a very humble man. We soon struck up a friendship originally based on a mutual dislike of the dominant species in our Dept...(we were in a dept which was mundane and not related in any way with Defence I should add...) but he was never openly critical ...except for one toff who had exasperated my friend to the extent he was heard to remark "if that bastard were on fire I'd **** on him for the pleasure of re-lighting the fire"...:eek::twisted:

[Bigbjorn]

As dry as an old Arab's fart.

As ****ed as an abo on pension day.

As useful as a pommie jackeroo.

[korg20000bc]

Two bottles of beer per man, per day.
... perhaps.

[460cixy]

I try not to get too wrapped around the axel about this stuff but as I tell the apprentice most days. Mate you couldn't drive a finger up your own arse

[sashadidi]

A great source of Ozzie sayings is the film : the adventures of Barry Mckenzie
The Adventures of Barry McKenzie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Barry_McKenzie)


I had a French friend who spend hours watching it and I had to "translate" all the sayings...........

[Chucaro]

The word "Cobber"is original from Tasmania?
I have not hear it in Victoria, NSW or Qld.

[Bigbjorn]

As hard as a publican's heart.

As thin as boarding house stew.

Two to the Valley. (Brisbanism)

Prunda. A nickname for a woman with a weighty husband. After Prunda, a successful racehorse noted for carrying big weights.

[korg20000bc]

My grandmother used to comment on a bad smell by saying "Urgh! Smells like a Chinese joss-house!"

[korg20000bc]

The word "Cobber"is original from Tasmania?
I have not hear it in Victoria, NSW or Qld.
I grew up with "cobber" being used almost daily in NSW.

[mudmouse]

'More excuses than a bus load of virgins'.

(in reference to soaking over a cut or scratch) 'It'll heal up quicker than your ar$ehole'

And further to that region...

'It ain't broken, just badly cracked'

'Strike me fat/pink'

Matt

[bob10]

The word "Cobber"is original from Tasmania?
I have not hear it in Victoria, NSW or Qld.


Doesn't get used much now, was common back in the WW1, & WW2, & a bit after. Had a look at google, came up with this, Bob


A friend, a companion. Also used as a form of address (g’day cobber!). The word probably comes from British dialect cob 'to take a liking to', although a Yiddish word khaber 'comrade' has also been suggested as a source. Cobber, now somewhat dated, is rarely used by young Australians. First recorded 1893.

[Chucaro]

Thanks Bob, is common used here in Tasmania.

[B92 8NW]

My grandmother used to comment on a bad smell by saying "Urgh! Smells like a Chinese joss-house!"

Hahahaha mine too. **** I haven't heard that for years!

[Ausfree]

It's so windy, it would blow a dog off a chain.

He's so dumb, he would think that if you planted a feather you would grow a rooster.

[korg20000bc]

It's so windy, it would blow a dog off a chain.

He's so dumb, he would think that if you planted a feather you would grow a rooster.
In a similar vein, "Its so windy it'd blow the milk out of your coffee!"

"Jeez, if you're not wearing a jumper today, you don't own one!"

[Ausfree]

As flash as a rat with a gold tooth!!!!

[korg20000bc]

Commenting, with the deepest voice you can, on a fat swimmer:
"There's a whale in the bay..."

[Debacle]

When going for a leak.

"Gotta go shake hands with the unemployed"

[Ausfree]

When going for a leak.

"Gotta go shake hands with the unemployed"

Point Steve at the stainless.

Point Percy at the porcelain.

[Ausfree]

If you are drunk and going to throw up..

Have a technicolour yodel

Kiss the porcelain princess.

The big spit

[korg20000bc]

One my dad taught me:

Here I sit, broken-hearted
Spent my penny but I only farted

[korg20000bc]

If you are drunk and going to throw up..

Have a technicolour yodel

Kiss the porcelain princess.

The big spit
Good ones!
My mum used to say
"Technicolour yawn"

Also, chunder, ralph and chuck.

[V8Ian]

If you are drunk and going to throw up..

Have a technicolour yodel

Kiss the porcelain princess.

The big spit
Or driving the big white bus.

[Ausfree]

When you are meeting somebody....male that is..


G'Day mate, how are they hangin.

[korg20000bc]

Completeing something easily-
"Piece of ****"

Edit:
Is "****" really a swear word?
Its in the King James Bible and Shakespere too.

1 Kings 16:11:

And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that ****eth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.

[Ausfree]

Or driving the big white bus.
OI!!! It's a big yellow bus!!:p

[V8Ian]

OI!!! It's a big yellow bus!!:p
Yellow porcelain?