Rowe - Wordbook of Australian Idiom--Aussie Slang

WORDBOOK OF AUSTRALIAN IDIOM Aussie Slang KERRIN. P. ROWE Copyright 2005 Kerrin P. Rowe. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

Note for Librarians: A cataloguing record for this book is available from Library and Archives Canada at www.collectionscanada.ca/amicus/index-e.html ISBN: 978-1-4120-6260-2 (soft cover) ISBN: 978-1-4122-0826-0 (ebook) Offices in Canada, USA, Ireland and UK This book was published on-demand in cooperation with Trafford Publishing. On-demand publishing is a unique process and service of making a book available for retail sale to the public taking advantage of on-demand manufacturing and Internet marketing. On-demand publishing includes promotions, retail sales, manufacturing, order fulfilment, accounting and collecting royalties on behalf of the author. Book sales for North America and international: Trafford Publishing, 6E2333 Government St., Victoria, BC V8T 4P4 CANADA phone 250 383 6864 (toll-free 1 888 232 4444) fax 250 383 6804; email to Book sales in Europe: Trafford Publishing () Limited, 9 Park End Street, 2nd Floor Oxford, UK OX1 1HH UNITED KINGDOM phone 44 (0)1865 722 113 (local rate 0845 230 9601) facsimile 44 (0)1865 722 868; Order online at: trafford.com/05-1161 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 Contents Special thanks to John and Jenny for their encouragement, support and advice and also to a real beaut woman in Josephine Doris Fletcher who inspired and urged me to write this book. To Carol for her diligent editing and compiling over the past months, she has been real beaut. The colloquial Workbook of Australian Idiom-Aussie Slang is a guide to the everyday language, which is peculiar to and used by Australian folk from all walks of life, no matter what or who they are or the level of success, education, credence or place in society they have attained.

The idiom and slang found in this Wordbook is used prolifically across Australia however, some slang words or idiom may differ slightly from state to state. Australians whether they are aware of it or not, use much of this Australian idiom during their daily discourse, whether it be verbal or in writing. Most people are unaware that they use it to the extent that they do. The idiom-slang is so well established it has now become a unique and colourful language that is recognised, world wide, for its peculiarity and the difficulty in understanding its variety and complexity. Additionally there appears to be some complimentary balance between the idiom-slang and the distinc- tive Australian accent. The Australian Idiom and Slang is based mainly on constriction of the English language.

The slang component has been contrived over centuries of change in England and the decades of change by the early Australian pioneers, farmers, military personnel, and immigrants, particularly the English, Irish and German settlers, poets, writers, indigenous people, and working classes from all types of industries, all of these have had some influence in forming this beaut language. Over time some slang words fall into disuse and tend to be replaced by another of the same inference due to various changes of principals customs and technological or industrial and environmental change. The influx of new immigrants brings other languages and words of opportunity for the existing residents to extract new expressive idiom and in turn create many new slang words. The Aussie idiomslang is an inherent mix of metaphrases, derogatory exclamations, expressions of concern or amazement, insinuation, ridicule and jest. many words do have converse meanings, of which, defy further analysis and an accepted fact is, that there is no logic to the Australian language. Given time and study you will discover that the Aussie language is challenging, not to be ridiculed but to be cherished and admired for its interwoven directness, complexity, eccentricity and under lying humour, Australians are known to be able to laugh at themselves, for ever humor- ously testing everyone be it in pleasant or adverse times For example the words bastard, bloody and bugger, are used mainly as intensifiers to emphasise or stress the strength of an exclamation or asser- tion such as, Hes an out and out bastard inferring, he is a real bad or mean or selfish person (nothing to do with the legitimacy of his berth).

Bloody oath mateindicating strong affirmation or agreement or confirmation of the completion of a task. Dont bugger about mate Be serious, dont procrastinate, and get on with it. The Australian Lingo is prone to being one of mischief. It has the ability to undermine, confuses, belittle, degrade, malign and amuse with a propensity for laughing at oneself or someone else, without really meaning any disrespect. For instance an Aussie might address somebody and say Gday Buggerlugs, which is a mock abusive taunt used as a friendly or fond term or greeting or used at the moment when one cant remember someones nameno disrespect intended. If you think you understand the Aussie lingo, test your self with the following remarks from an aggressive supervisor addressing his gang or crew: G day youse blokes ow ya goin? It s a mongrel of a day ya know, it s all arse-up but I m not in the flamin mood for any of youse coves or any other mongrel bastard ere for that matter, to bloody well get on me wick, or piss me orf and if ya do Ill dock or dong the first bloody mug bastard or any other drongo bludger ere oo doesnt get is finga out and hop in for his fair chop of yakka.

Now dont arse about or yousell get the arse, now get ya flamin gear and get stuck inta it. Cop ya later blokes. The translation might go like this Hello how are you all? I know that the weather is bad and that we have some problems but every one needs to do his fair share of work dont procrasti- nate, and no malingering. If you do, I will be forced to take serious action and may reduce your payment or terminate your employment. Now, come on get your tools and start work. The author has made little or no attempt to explain the origins of any particular idiom or slang word in this wordbook as it would extend the publication to a volume of at least 30 centimetres, say one foot thick, and that would make it, out of whack or it would be Im bloody possible to carry in a blokes kick or a sheilas purse.

It should be known and understood that Australians lean very much towards the underdog or the under privileged person, the battler the novice in sport, to others in times of disaster and need, and because of the strong sentiments, the following criteria has evolved and are virtually a national edict that (1)It is Un-Australian to bag yer mate (2)It is Un-Australian to dob-in a mate (3)It is Un-Australian not to pull yer weight (4)It is Un-Australian not to accept a persons performance, when one has given their all.. The aim of this publication is to assist people such as visitors, tourists school children and immigrants and others to the land of Oz to broadentheir knowledge, widen their vision of understanding this country the language and of the people. We hope this record may be helpful in the preservation of some of the Aussie Idiom and slang for future generations, as at this time 2004, our society develops and expands further into one of a diversified multi national culture society of Australians. Kerrin. P. Rowe 2004 a, the big a Snub, Ignore, to be sacked (1) Hes bloody rude ignore him, give him the big A (the arse) (2) The bludger was given the big A (the arse) he was sacked a bit strong To speak assertively, with force I know he sacked ya, ya bastard, but to call you a lazy bludger and kick ya dog, now thats a bit strong about (a) Nearly there, not quite accurate, it will do (b) (c) A reluctant indirect manner, admitting it is correct/a fact (1) Thats about right pal, near enough (2) Yeah! That would be about right, mate above board To be openly honest with no hidden agenda Be fair dinkum no bloody trick-ups, mate ace (a) I am alone, on my own (b) On the point of leaving somewhere (1) Cobber on my ace (2) Im within an ace of going act, bung on Lost ones temper, a tantrum a rude out burst He did bung on an act act-up To play up, act improperly as in amischievous child The kids did they act-up? Yes too right act-up The car engine or machinery malfunc- tioned The flamin donk would always act-up act-up The workers revolted, refused to work The lazy bludgers did act-up acid put the acid on To exert pressure on someone, in a manner, that refusal of a request is near impossible Hes not a bad bloke; put the bloody acid on me he did, so I had to give him a loan acre Do you want a kick in the anus / bottom / posterior? Do you want a kick in the acre? adultescents Young people aged 25 plus who remains living with parents and because life is so good eg; no rent free food, amenities and maid service of cleaning washing and ironing no job as yet not married and no children.