Thread: Forgotten Aussie slang and one liners

Beverley and Shirley were once male names

I havent heard the word Shiela for ages

Originally Posted by Redback

Calling them Cyclones is a new thing, when i was growing up we called them hurricanes, a bit like tidal waves being call Tsunamis

Just being pedantic maybe, little of Ron rubbing off maybe

or just being a boofhead to quote aussie slang

According to Harbord's "Glossary of Navigation" (1938) the correct terminology is Hurricanes in the Atlantic and West Indies, Cyclone in the Indian Ocean, and Typhoon in the North Pacific - South Pacific is not mentioned. Tropical Cyclone is the general term.

Shorter OED confirms that the term "Cyclone" meaning a tropical revolving storm dates from the mid 19th century. Also notes that Hurricane dates from the mid 16th century and as well as referring to a West Indian Cyclone (the word is native American via Spanish) refers to any strong wind, specifically one of Hurricane strength.

So the term is hardly new - and hurricane has never been a technically correct term for use in Australia, even if you did grow up calling them Hurricanes.

Similarly, tsunamis have always (at least since the late 19th century) been the technical term for what was colloquially called a tidal wave.

I think in both cases it is a matter of detailed meteorological language moving into general speech as the general population becomes better educated about weather - perhaps partly at least due to TV weather broadcasts.

John

Carol still appears as a male name.

eg Carol Shelby, Carol Smith, Carol O'Connor etc

Nelson Bunker Hunt (who tried to corner the silver market maybe 20+ years ago), I believe, had a brother who's name was 'Bum'...

GQ

Flat as a s**t-carter's hat
Flat as a biscuit
Flat strap

my old man always used...

"its about as much use as a sore **** to a boundry rider"
(a boundry rider rode the edge of properties either prior to fences or later to check fences etc and therfore spent a lot of time in the saddle....i think it explains itself!)

and pop used...

"dont give an old soldier the dry bible!"
(ww1 veteran...apparently reasonably common to hollow bible so as to carry bottle of appropriate "holy water"
which normally wouldnt be allowed)


(mind you I bought a 97 defender a number of years ago and the first thing the old man said was "why did you buy that "bastard" for? the only change they made to them from new was changing the tractor body for a car body and since 1950 the only bloody change I can see is the grill came forwards and the headlights popped out! )


digger

Hi,
I was working with a Kiwi ex shearer on the weekend, when he got his saw jammed in the wood.
He cursed the "son of a syphilitic sea-cock".
This of course immediately conjured up images of totally inappropriate naval behaviour below decks.
His other gem was "more chatter than a married magpie".

cheers

you bl00dy ripper
dickwhit
numbnut
doodletwang