The Illustrated Dictionary of Australian English

Words and Phrases in Afferbeck Lauder

G

gab: chatter, talk
the Gabba: the brisbane cricket ground
Located in the suburb of Wooloongabba.
galah: a fool, an idiot
Get out of it, you great bloody galah. The word comes from Yuwaalaraay and related aboriginal‑australian languages of northern NSW. The bird referred to is the grey‑backed, pink‑breasted cockatoo Eolophus roseicapillus, occurring in all parts of Australia except the extreme north-east and south-west.; first recorded in the 1850s
galah session: a period allocated for private conversation
Especially between women on isolated stations, on an outback radio network.
galoot: an awkward, silly fellow, a great clumsy oaf
Originally used by sailors to refer to soldiers
aussie slang since 1812
galvo: galvanised iron
In the form of corrugated sheets, a quintessential building material in Oz.
gander: to look at something
Have a gander at these galahs!
game as Ned Kelly: plucky, resolute
One who is imbued with the fighting spirit of Australia's national hero.
To be game as Ned Kelly is to be outstandingly courageous.
gammon: This word has survived over the years as a part of Aboriginal Australian Aboriginal English, from where it has now been re-adopted into Australian English, epecially in areas close to Aboriginal Australian Aboriginal Communities, such as northern Australia.; 1 to lie or tell fibs; 2 to pretend, tease, or kid; 3 a fake, a lie, something no good, nonsense
aussie slang since 1812
garbo: 1 garbage collector ∼ garbologist
The garbos come every Tuesday.
2 garbage bin
Chuck it in the garbo.
gargle: an alcoholic drink
Care for a gargle?
aussie slang since the 1930s
garn!: go on!
A typical aussie contraction similar to carn!
Garn, there's a stack of room!
aussie slang since the 1910s
gas-bag: one who talks at great length
gasper: a cigarette
gawk: stare openly
Don't gawk at me like that.
To look or perv at, not in a sexual way
gay: 1 homosexual
Originally used by gays themselves, the word spread to the straight community and became a homophobic term of abuse, until reclaimed in the 1970s by the gay community.
standard english
2 uncool, daggy, socially unacceptable
Note that there is no sense of homosexuality involved.
That band is so gay.
What a gay haircut.
adolescent slang since the early 1990s
gay and hearty: a party
rhyming slang: gay and hearty for party
gazunder: 1 a chamber pot
Because it goes under the bed.
2 in cricket, a delivery that is low to the ground
Also called a mullygrubber.
cricket slang
g'day: good day
The ubiquitous friendly Aussie greeting.
recorded in this abbreviated form since the 1900s
Formerly used as an unabbreviated parting comment when the person leaving was annoyed. Still used today, but only in a joking way:
Good day to you sir!

G

geek: 1 a look
Taken from Cornish dialect.
I wanted to have a geek on the other side of a lot of hills – not only in Australia, but around the world. aussie slang dating from world warⅠ
2 a nerd or uncool person
From a British dialect, where it is a variant of geck – a fool.
assimilated into aussie slang in the 1980s
gee up: to excite or stir up
Her act really geed up the audience.
The vociferous crowd gave the players a gee up.
gent: a maggot used for bait
gemfish: hake
gestapo: ticket inspectors
melbourne slang
get a bag: a derisive cry in cricket
Directed at a player who has dropped an easy catch.
cricket slang
get amongst it: to get actively and enthusiastically involved
It's time to hit the pub and get amongst it!
aussie slang since the 1960s
get a wriggle on: to hurry someone
Get a wriggle on or we'll be late
aussie slang since the 1940s
get set: to place a bet
aussie gambling slang since the 1910s
get yourself outside of: eat or drink something
Here, get yourself outside of this ice-cream.

G

gibber: 1 a small stone suitable for throwing
There are a number of similar words for this same item from all over the country, such as gonnie, all of which come from Aboriginal languages.
aboriginal language dharug spoken in the sydney region
2 a geological term
Gibbers are found covering the surface of parts of the arid inland. They are a pebble or stone of chalcedony, or other hard silica, covered with desert varnish (a dark coating composed of fine-grained minerals). A region covered with gibbers is called a gibber plain, gibber desert, or gibber country. The local rag in Woomera is called The Gibber Gabber.
gidgee: a hand-held spear
Fired from a thick band of elastic, used in spearfishing.
aboriginal language nyungar spoken in south-western w.a.
gig: 1 a police informer
Short for fizgig. Hence, a stickybeak or busybody.
aussie slang from the 1950s 2 to kid or tease
Are you gigging me?
aussie slang since the 1890s 3 a fool
Don't make a gig of yourself.
4 a look
Have a gig at this!
aussie slang from the 1920s
gilgai: a natural formation of mounds and depressions
Occuring in inland Australia, often forming a reservoir after heavy rain.; From the Aboriginal languages Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi.
gilgie: a native freshwater crayfish
Pronounced with an initial soft g.
Also spelt jilgie, and colloqualised as joogie.
See yabby for more information.
From the Aboriginal nation of Nyungar, or Nooongar, a constellation of peoples who live from Geraldton to Esperance in the south-west of WA.
aboriginal language nyungar spoken in south-western w.a.
ging: a catapult or slingshot
Pronounced with an initial hard g.
Possibly imitative of the sound made when fired.
aussie slang from the 1930s
ginger: 1 to steal from a client of a prostitute or their accomplice; 2 the backside or bum
I gave him a swift kick up the ginger.
If someone is on your ginger, then they are chasing you.
rhyming slang: ginger ale for tail
give it away: to give up on something
I used to smoke, but I've given it away now.
aussie slang since the 1940s
give lip: be cheeky
give the game away: 1 to abandon whatever it is you are doing
I can't fix this, I'm giving the game away.
2 to retire from an occupation
I used to be a lawyer but I gave the game away in 2000.

G

gladdie

a gladiolus

Made famous by Dame Edna Everidge.
Also shortened to glad.

aussie slang since the 1940s

glad rags

best clothes

glassed

to be hit in the face by a drinking glass
Joe's in hospital, he got glassed at the pub last night.

glass

ordering a glass of beer

What you will receive around the country.

WA ‧ SA ‧ Vic ‧ Tas ‧ Qld 7 fluid ounces/200ml

Tas ‧ Qld Also called a seven

SA A butcher

NSW A glass of beer? What size?

aussie slang

glassie

a person employed by a pub or club
To remove used glasses and empty ashtrays.

G

go: 1any attempt
Especially a gutsy effort
I'll give anything a go.
Hence the great Aussie barracking cry:
Have a go ya mug!
2 a fight
Commonly found in a challenge to fisticuffs.
Do you want a go, mate?
Hence, as a verb, to attack:
I was itching to go him.
3 an opportunity
Here's a go!
4 to say
Common in the speech of schoolkids and ethnic Aussies.
So I go to him, ‘Shut up!’
5 to eat or drink with pleasure
I could really go a beer right now.
6 a goanna
An example of the Aussie penchant for abbreviation:
You should have seen the size of that go-go!
goal sneak: a player who catches the opposition unawares and scores a goal
aussie rules slang
goanna: a piano
rhyming slang: pianner for goanna
gob: the mouth
gobful: telling someone the unpleasant truth
She didn't want to hear, but I gave her a gobful anyway.
gobsmacked: surprised, astounded
goer: energetic person, workable proposition
godzone: australia
Aussie contraction of God's Own Country. aussie slang
go for the doctor: 1 to go as fast as possible; 2 to bet all your money on a race; 3 the moment when a jockey gets the whip out
With two furlongs remaining, Jim Cassidy goes for the doctor.
horseracing slang
golly: saliva and mucus collected in the mouth and spat out
gone: 1 pregnant
She's five months gone already.
2 ruined or undone
If he catches us we're gone.
aussie slang since the 1940s
gone a million: completely and utterly undone, defeated
aussie slang since the 1910s
gone to Gowings: departed in great haste, destitute, drunk, hung-over, insane
Originally an advertising campaign for Gowing Brothers, a Sydney department store.
It consisted of witty cartoons of someone making a hasty departure with the explanation that they had gone to Gowings.
The store closed in 2006 after 138 years in business – so now Gowings is finally gone. nsw slang from the 1940s
gonk: a catapult or slingshot
northern n.s.w. slang
gone to the dogs: changing from good to bad, to deteriorate
Metaphorically refering to an old horse sent to the knackers to become dog meat.
gonnie: a small stone suitable for throwing
There are a number of similar words from all over the country for this same item, all of which come from Aboriginal languages. In Vic they have the brinnie, Qld has the gonnie, SA has the ronnie, all along the east coast there is the connie, whilst in WA they have the coondie and the boondie, which also means a large rock or a sand bomb used by kids. Australia-wide there is the goolie, and the gibber, the only one for which a definite origin is known.
aboriginal australian languages queensland south australia
gooby: saliva and mucus collected in the mouth and spat out
good oh: very good, all right, okay
Everything was good oh.
good on ya: good for you, well done, bravo
Often shortened to onya, or in the plural, onyas.
good sort: an attractive female
Nowadays the term has been adopted by sheilas to refer to blokes.
aussie slang since the 1940s
good trot: a run of good luck
aussie slang since the 1940s
good wicket: an advantageous position
Two grand a week! He's on a good wicket.
go off: 1 to be thrilling ❨at a party or similar event❩
The dance floor was really going off.
2 excellent waves ❨in the surf❩
Grab your board, Burleigh is going off.
3 to be raided by the police ❨of an illegal establishment❩
Hence, to be arrested.
underworld slang from the 1940s
4 to make a proper run ❨of a racehorse❩
After being previously held back to give an impression of poor form in order to obtain better odds.
racing slang
goog: an egg
Originally from Scotland, also called a googy or googy-egg.
Pronounced with a short vowel, as in good.
goom: methylated spirits drunk by alcoholics
Hence a goomie is a person addicted to methylated spirits.
See metho for more.
first recorded in the 1960s, perhaps from an aboriginal language
goon: a flagon of wine
From flagoon, a jocular pronunciation of flagon.
Inexpensive wine, often plonk, now usually sold in a cardboard cask See red ned for more information.
aussie slang from the 1980s
goon bag ∼ goon sack: the silver bladder
Inside a wine cask
goon juice: cask wine mixed with a soft drink
gortons flu: a hangover
From John Grey Gorton, a noted drunk.
He was Prime Minister of Australia from 1968 until 1971.
aussie slang since 1968
govie ∼ guvvie: goverment funded housing
Now often privately owned.
act slang

G

graft: hard work
Hence, grafter, a hard worker
aussie slang since the 1890s
Granny: 1 an affectionate name for the sydney morning herald
Originally derisive, back in 1851
2 a granny smith apple
I had a Granny at lunch today.
grass castle: a large mansion
Paid for from the proceeds of marijuana growing.
great Australian adjective: the word bloody used as an intensifier
aussie slang since the 1890s
Great Barrier Reef: the world's largest structure created by living creatures
green & gold: the australian international sporting colours
From our national floral emblem, the golden wattle.
She was proud to wear the green and gold.
proclaimed by the governor-general on 19 april 1984
green giant: a one hundred dollar note
greenie: an enviromentalist
The association of green with enviromentalism first appeared in England in the early 1970s in the name Greenpeace.
The addition of ie to form a noun was an Aussie contribution.
aussie diminutive
grey: 1 a grey kangaroo; 2 a double-headed or double-tailed penny
Used to cheat in the game of two-up.
convict slang from 1812
grey ghost: a parking inspector
So called because of their grey uniform.
vic ‧ nsw ‧ wa slang
grey nomad: an older person, often retired, who travels extensively within australia
Especially by campervan, caravan, or the like.
grizzle: to complain
grog: alcohol
Originally British naval slang referring to watered down rum.
I'm going to have a few grogs with my old mates. In 1740 Admiral Vernon (nicknamed Old Grog, from grognam, the material his cloak was made from) ordered water to be issued with sailors rum.
When made illicitly it is known as sly grog To be on the grog is to be on a drinking spree. To grog on is to take part in a piss-up. A heavy drinker is known as a grog artist
aussie slang since the 1830s
grommet: a young, inexperienced surfer
Also shortened to grom or grommie. Also called a gremmie, from gremlin, and now used by snowboarders for novices.
surfie slang since the 1980s
grot: dirty or untidy person
grouse: great, terrific, very good
We had a grouse time, but now it's back to work.
aussie slang since the 1920s
grouter ∼ to come in on the grouter: to arrive after the work is finished
Because laying the grout is the last job to get done when tiling.
Hence, to be lucky, to have things fall your way.
Notice how the bludger always manages to come in on the grouter. Used in a disparaging way by those who haven't had the luck.
grundies: underwear
rhyming slang: reg grundy for undies

G

gumi: a raft made of tyre inner tubes
There is an annual gumi race down the Murrumbidgee River.
Interestingly, the word gumi is pidgin English for rubber.
gummies: gumboots, wellington boots
gumtree: an australian eucalypt
So named from its gummy sap.
Used in various slang expressions such as:
Up a gumtree
Meaning in all sorts of strife
Mad as a gumtree full of galahs.
Meaning stark raving bonkers.
first used by captain james cook in 1770
guernsey ∼ get a guernsey: win selection, recognition, approbation
Originally, to be selected for a football team.
gun: 1 a champion shearer
Hence, a champion at anything
2 a large surfboard for riding big waves; 3 to rev an engine
Hence, to drive at great speed.
aussie slang since the 1890s
gunna: going to do something
When are you gunna do the dishes?
gunyah: a small rough hut or shelter in the bush
Traditionally made by Aboriginal people of boughs and bark. dharug language ganya: house, hut
gurgler ∼ down the gurgler: something that is lost irrevocably
gutful of piss: drunk
See piss for related expressions.
gutless wonder: an immense coward
Used in America since the 1930s. aussie slang since the 1950s
guts: essential information
We need to get to the guts of the matter. digger slang from world war Ⅰ
guts ∼ drop your guts: to fart
gut ∼ spill one's guts: confess
gutzer ∼ come a gutzer: fall over heavily, the failure of a scheme
The term originated amongst swimmers as descriptive of a dive in which the diver instead of striking the water with hands, head or feet first strikes with his stomach.
gyno: gynaecologist

aussie acronyms

G-G: governor-general
GST: goods and services tax

Welcome to Australia!

This is a peculiar country where the principles of culture appear to have been turned upside down. Australians seem blissfully unaware of the achievements of their intellectuals… yet they will celebrate long dead horses, yobbo sportsmen, and bushrangers.

They often forget the words of their national anthem… yet it would be wrong to say they are not patriotic as a song about a suicidal sheep thief seems to instil them with a great deal of pride.

If they like you, they will not give you compliments. Instead, they might call you names like bastard or drongo — and then laugh at all the silly things you have done. If you have red hair, you might be called Bluey. If you are tall, you might be called Shorty. If you are quiet, you might be called Rowdy.

There is no better way of life in the world than that of the Australian.
I firmly believe this.

The grumbling, growling, cursing, profane, laughing, beer drinking, abusive, loyal-to-his-mates Australian is one of the few free men left on this earth.

He fears no one, crawls to no one, bludgers on no one, and acknowledges no master.

Learn his way. Learn his language. Get yourself accepted as one of him; and you will enter a world that you never dreamed existed.

And once you have entered it, you will never leave it.

Australian history is almost always picturesque; indeed, it is also so curious and strange, that it is itself the chiefest novelty the country has to offer and so it pushes the other novelties into second and third place.

It does not read like history, but like the most beautiful lies; and all of a fresh new sort, no mouldy old stale ones.

It is full of surprises and adventures, the incongruities, and contradictions, and incredibilities; but they are all true, they all happened.
Mark Twain, 1897

first australians

Long before a word of English was ever spoken in Australia, the Aboriginal languages were heard all over the continent.

Each group or mob has its own language, but those languages spoken close to what later became the main centres of European population were those which have had the most influence on modern Aussie English.

Aboriginal words are likely to have been absorbed into Aussie English as local leaders from both native groups and colonists tried to find some tentative common ground; and as the new arrivals sought to find names for the strange new things they were seeing.

Aboriginal words common in Aussie English include yakka, meaning work–common usage is the collocation ‘hard yakka’, and cooee, first used by Aboriginal people calling each other through the bush.

Also of Aboriginal origin is bung, from the aboriginal language Yagara in the Brisbane region, meaning "dead" and by extension "broken" or "useless".

Many place names are Aboriginal — the capital Canberra is so‑named because it means "meeting place" in Ngunnawal, the traditional language of the Ngunnawal and Gandangara peoples.

Commonly used Aboriginal words include many animal names, such as kookaburra, koala, wallaby and dingo.

animals of australia

immigrant influences

Whether convicts or willing migrants, the Europeans who found their way to Australia from the eighteenth century onwards came from a wide range of different groups.

At that time, there were great differences between different British English dialects, so that convicts from different regions of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland would all have spoken very differently.
Some would not have spoken English at all – being Irish or Scots Gaelic or Welsh speakers.

To understand each other, these groups would have begun to create a common language, and words from various dialects would have become part of a new slang and new idioms.

new australians

The children of those early settlers would have been keen to mark themselves out as Australians, rather than Irish or English, and that meant that new accents and speech patterns developed as quickly as the colony itself did.

It was almost as if an informal Australian school of English and Irish arrivals alike had set itself up. Words which found their way into the language via the convicts include tucker, an Irish word for food, and swag a word from the criminal underworld meaning a parcel of goods taken by a thief, but coming to mean a bushman's bag.

the gold rush days

This era brought words such as fossick into common usage.

the bushrangers

Many terms come from the bushranger tradition, such as bush telegraph, bail up, and game as Ned Kelly.

the first world war

WWⅠ added another layer of slang, such as dinkum , meaning genuine or real.

Australian English is peppered with unique slang words and particular types of phraseology such as strine and ocker.

diminutives in australia

The use of diminutive forms of words such as arvo for afternoon or barbie for barbecue is common. Some words, such as ute, from utility vehicle, a car with a tray back, have become universal.

While many languages make use of diminutives, Aussie English uses them extensively – there are over 5,000 identified diminutives in use in Australia.

let stalk strine!

Do you have a Gloria Soame?
What are sex?
What is an egg nishner?
And can you tell me where checque etcher londger ray?

Professor Lauder knows the answers‼

australian gazetteer

From Adavale (Qld) to Zeehan (Tas), this atlas will locate any town in Australia.

the most comprehensive atlas you have ever seen

australian colours

The Australian Independent Colour Standard AS 2700 was created in 1985. It is used in choosing colour schemes in the industrial, architectural, and decorative areas.

AS 2700 in HTML

WA ‧ SA ‧ Vic ‧ Tas ‧ Qld	7 fluid ounces/200ml
Tas ‧ Qld	Also called a seven
SA	A butcher
NSW	A glass of beer? What size?