Basic
Travel Vocabulary
Some
Australian English Expressions
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By Reinhard F. Hahn, Seattle, Washington, USA, July 2007
Alice |
Alice
Springs |
Arvo |
Afternoon |
Award wage |
Minimum wage |
Back of Bourke |
Middle of nowhere |
Bail up |
Hold up, rob |
Barbie |
Barbecue |
Bathers |
Bathing suit/trunks |
Beaut |
Great,
wonderful, splendid |
Belt up! |
Shut up! |
Berco |
Very angry |
Bickie (< biscuit) |
(1)
Cookie, (2) dollar |
Big mobs |
Lots, large amounts |
Bikie |
Biker, motorcyclist |
Biscuit |
Cookie |
Bitumen |
Asphalt
(usually as road surface) |
Blimy! |
Oh,
boy! For heaven’s sake! Gee! |
Bloke |
Guy, chap, man |
Bloody
hell! |
Darn
it! I’ll be ... |
Blowie |
Blowfish |
Bog |
Toilet, bathroom,
restroom |
Bonnet |
Hood
(of a motorcar) |
Bonzer |
Great, excellent |
Boomer |
Large
male red kangaroo |
Bottle shop |
Liquor store |
Buckley’s |
Not a chance |
Bulldust |
(1)
Outback road; (2) nonsense, BS |
Bush tucker |
Native
food, wild food |
BYO |
Bring your own
(bottle) |
Cal |
Calgoorlie |
Capsicum |
Pepper
(green pepper, etc.) |
Cello
tape |
Scotch
tape |
Chook |
Chicken (the bird) |
Chuck |
Throw, cast |
Come good |
Turn out all right |
Copper |
Cop, police
officier |
Counter meal |
Pub meal |
Cow |
Awful situation |
Crayfish |
Rock
lobster |
Crook |
Ill, sick; bad |
Cross |
Angry,
bearing a grudge |
Daks |
Pants |
Dinkie dye |
Whole truth;
genuine, through and through |
Dinkum |
Genuine, honest |
Drongo |
Stupid person |
Dunny |
Outhouse; toilet,
bathroom, restroom |
Dustbin |
Trash
can |
Earbash |
Incessant talking |
Esky, eskie |
Large thermos
container |
Fair crack of the whip! |
Let’s be fair! Give
… a chance! |
Fair dinkum |
Genuine, honest |
Fair go! |
Let’s be fair! Give
… a chance! |
Financial |
Having a lot of
money |
Flog |
Sell |
Footy,
footie |
(Australian
rules) football |
Footy
shorts, footie shorts |
short,
usually black shorts worn during Australian rules football games,
also casually worn by males that
don't play that game |
Galah |
Big-mouth,
silly-talking person |
Gander |
(Take a) look |
Garbo |
Garbage collector |
Give it away |
Give up |
Goer |
Something to happen
for sure |
Good oil |
Reliable
information |
Good on yah! |
Good for you! Well
done! |
Grog |
Alcoholic drink,
booze |
Gumtree |
Eucalyptus
tree |
Hotel |
(1)
Hotel; (2) pub, bar |
Hump |
(1)
Bump; (2) lug,
carry (something heavy) |
Identity |
Identity; celebrity |
Jingoes! |
Good heavens! Wow! |
Jocks |
Underpants (for
males) |
Jumbuck |
Sheep |
Jumped-up |
Full of oneself,
self-important |
Kafuffle |
Argument,
disagreement |
Keen as mustard |
Very eager,
enthusiastic |
Kick |
Share, join in |
Kick in |
Give one’s
share/contribution |
Knock |
Criticize |
Knocker |
Criticizing person |
Licensed |
Licensed to sell
alcoholic beverages |
Lift |
(1)
Elevator, (2) (hitched) ride |
Lolly |
Candy, sweets |
Lolly water |
Pop (drink) |
Loo |
Toilet, bathroom,
restroom |
Marron |
Crawfish,
crawdad |
Mate |
Friend, buddy |
Migrant |
Immigrant |
Mobs |
Lots, large amounts |
Mozzie |
Mosquito |
Narked |
Annoyed, bothered |
Nick |
Steal |
Nick out |
Leave for a short
time |
No worries! |
Don’t worry! It’ll
be fine! No problem |
No-hoper |
Hopeless
situation/prospect |
Noise off |
Speak loudly |
Ockie strap |
Flexible strap with
hooks |
Off-license |
Liquor
store |
Oil |
Information |
OS |
Overseas |
Packed out |
Completely filled |
Paddock |
Meadow, field |
Petrol |
Gasoline |
Pinch |
(1)
Steal; (2) arrest |
Piss |
Beer |
Pissed |
Drunk |
Piss
off! |
Get
lost! |
Plonk |
Inferior wine |
Pom,
Pommie |
English
person (not necessarily disrespectful) |
Poofter |
Fag,
homosexual male |
Power
point |
(Electric)
outlet |
Prawn |
Large
shrimp, jumpo shrimp |
Quick smart |
Immediately, in a
hurry |
Raw prawn |
Deception,
lie, trick |
Ripper |
Great, excellent
(person) |
Roo |
Kangaroo |
Roo bar |
Metal
bar
at the front of a vehicle to protect it in case of collision
with wildlife |
Rooted |
Tired |
Rubber |
Eraser |
Rubber
band |
Elastic
band |
Rubbish |
Garbage |
Rubbish
tip |
Garbage
dump |
Satdy |
Saturday |
Sheila |
Woman |
Shoot through |
Leave quickly,
disappear |
Shove off! |
Go away! Get lost! |
Shrimp |
Small
shrimp |
Skirting
board |
Base
board |
Synny |
Sydney |
Synnysider,
Sydneysider |
Resident
of Sydney |
Skirting
board |
Base
board |
Slog |
Hard work |
Spunky |
Good-looking,
attractive |
Station |
Large farm, ranch |
Stinker |
(1)
Bad day; (2) exceptionally hot day |
Struth! Strewth! |
Really! Goodness! |
Swede |
Rutabaga |
Take-away food |
Take-out food |
Tap |
Faucet |
Tazzie,
Tassie |
Tasmania |
Telly, tellie |
Television |
Thongs |
Flip-flops |
Tip |
Dump |
Too right! |
Absolutely!
You bet! You’d better believe. |
Torch
(electric ...) |
Flashlight |
Trunk |
Boot
(of a motorcar) |
Tucker |
Food |
Ute |
Utility vehicle |
Walkabout |
Hike, long walk |
Whinge |
Nag and complain,
whine |
Whinger |
Complainer,
whiner |
Willy-willy |
Wind whirl |
Wowser |
Spoilsport, party
pooper |
Yank |
American
(from any part of the US) |
Zebra crossing |
Marked
pedestrian crossing |
Zed |
Zee (letter z) |
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