Australian English is renowned for its colourful and often humorous slang. From quirky animal names to expressions born from the outback and beyond, Aussie slang offers a unique window into the nation’s culture and history. Let’s explore some fascinating examples of this distinctive vernacular.
Banana Bender
A banana bender is a term used to refer to a Queenslander. This playful nickname stems from the perception, particularly from those in Australia’s southern states, that Queensland is a land where people spend their days bending bananas.
The term’s origins can be traced back to a 1937 article in The Queenslander, where a man jokingly described his occupation to the Queen as a “banana-bender,” explaining that he was responsible for giving bananas their characteristic curve. Queensland’s extensive banana-growing industry further cemented this association, leading to nicknames like “Banana Land” for the state and “Banana Curtain” for its border. The first recorded use of banana bender in print dates back to 1940, and it remains a common, often lighthearted, term today.
Bandicoot
The word bandicoot originally referred to the Indian mammal Bandicota indica. However, soon after European settlement in Australia in 1788, it was adopted to describe several native Australian mammals with long, pointed heads that bore a resemblance to their Indian namesakes. By 1799, David Collins was already documenting the presence of “bandicoots” in Australia.
From the 1830s onwards, bandicoot became integrated into uniquely Australian phrases, often symbolizing poverty or deprivation. Phrases like “as miserable as a bandicoot” or “as poor as a bandicoot” became common, reflecting a perception of the bandicoot as a creature in a desolate state. The verb “to bandicoot” emerged later in the 19th century, meaning “to steal potatoes from the ground, leaving the plant undisturbed,” likely inspired by the bandicoot’s burrowing habits and suggesting a surreptitious act of taking something without leaving obvious traces.
Banksia Man
The banksia man is a character originating from Australian children’s literature, specifically May Gibbs’ Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (1918). The character is based on the distinctive woody cones of Banksia trees, native Australian shrubs and trees named after botanist Sir Joseph Banks.
These cones, often strangely shaped and gnarled, inspired Gibbs to create the grotesque and villainous banksia men in her stories. The term has since entered Australian English, often used figuratively to describe something gnarled, unattractive, or slightly menacing, drawing on the visual imagery of the banksia cone character.
Barbecue Stopper
A barbecue stopper refers to a topic of significant public interest, particularly a political issue, that is so captivating it could halt conversations even at a quintessential Australian barbecue. The term, coined by former Prime Minister John Howard in 2001, highlights the importance of the issue by suggesting it could interrupt even the sacred Aussie tradition of a barbecue.
The implication is that a barbecue stopper is something so compelling it would distract Australians from their food, drinks, and socialising – a truly significant matter. The term has broadened beyond politics to encompass any topic that dominates public discussion and captures widespread attention.
Barcoo
Barcoo is a term derived from the Barcoo River in western Queensland, and since the 1870s, it has become shorthand for the hardships and challenging living conditions of the Australian outback. The remote outback environment often meant limited access to fresh food, leading to dietary deficiencies and illnesses.
Barcoo rot, a form of scurvy characterized by chronic sores, was one such ailment. Barcoo sickness, also known as Barcoo vomit or Barcoo spew, was another condition, likely linked to poor diet, marked by vomiting. However, Barcoo also encompasses the positive aspects of outback life, such as resourcefulness (Barcoo dog – a makeshift sheep herding rattle) and a rough-and-ready, laconic bush wit, as exemplified by the “Barcoo Salute” (brushing flies away).
Barrack For
To barrack for means to support or encourage a person, team, or cause, typically by shouting slogans or encouragement. While some believe barrack originates from Australian pidgin “poke borak at” (to deride), its more likely root is Northern Irish “barrack” (to brag or boast).
Initially, barrack meant “to jeer” in British English, but in Australian English, the phrase barrack for transformed its meaning to denote cheering and support. The first recorded use of barrack for dates back to the 1880s, and it remains a vital part of the Australian sporting and cultural lexicon.
Barrier Rise
Barrier rise is a term from horseracing, referring to the moment the starting gates open, commencing a race. The barrier itself is the starting gate at the racecourse. Australian English incorporates barrier into several horseracing terms, including barrier blanket, barrier trial, and barrier rogue.
Barrier rise signifies the crucial instant when the race begins, full of anticipation and excitement. The term was first documented in the 1890s and is essential vocabulary for racing enthusiasts in Australia.
Battler
The word battler has a long history in English, borrowed from French and initially meaning “a person who battles or fights.” However, in the late 19th century, battler acquired distinctively Australian connotations.
In Australian English, a battler describes someone with few advantages who works tirelessly with little reward, struggling to make a living but displaying courage and resilience. It can also refer to an unemployed or irregularly employed person, particularly in rural areas (swagman) or urban settings (someone living by opportunism). Historically, it even described prostitutes and racecourse punters. However, today, battler primarily embodies the hardworking, resilient individual facing life’s challenges, especially in phrases like “little Aussie battler.”
Berley
Berley is ground bait scattered by anglers to attract fish. Various materials can be used for berley, from bread and fish scraps to more unconventional options like poultry mash or tinned cat food. An early Bulletin article even suggested “a kerosene-tinful of rabbit carcasses boiled to a pulp” for Murray cod.
The verb “to berley,” meaning to scatter ground bait, appeared first in 1852, with the noun form emerging in the 1860s. The word’s origin remains unknown, but it’s an essential term for Australian fishing enthusiasts.
Big Note
To big note means to boast about one’s wealth or exaggerate one’s importance or achievements. The term emerged in the 1920s. In the 1950s, a big note man or big noter was someone who handled or bet large sums of money – “big notes” referring to higher denomination banknotes in pre-decimal currency.
Big-noting evolved from the association between displaying large sums of money and showing off. The term is used to describe someone who is ostentatious and self-aggrandizing.
Bikie
A bikie is a member of a motorcycle gang. The term follows a common Australian English pattern of adding the -ie suffix as an informal marker. Initially, bikie referred to any motorcycle gang member, often associated with youth culture. More recently, it has become linked to motorcycle gangs operating outside the law.
Bikie emerged in the 1960s and carries connotations of rebellion and, in contemporary usage, often criminality.
Bilby
The bilby refers to either of two species of Australian bandicoots, especially the rabbit-eared bandicoot Macrotis lagotis. These burrowing marsupials inhabit woodlands and plains in drier parts of mainland Australia. The word bilby is borrowed from Yuwaalaraay and neighboring Aboriginal languages.
The bilby is also known as dalgyte and pinky in different regions. Since the 1990s, there have been efforts to promote the bilby as an Australian alternative to the Easter bunny, and chocolate bilbies are now a popular Easter treat. The term bilby was first recorded in the 1870s.
Billabong
A billabong is a branch of a river that forms a backwater or dead-end channel, often becoming a pool or lagoon when water levels drop. Billabongs are frequently created when floodwaters recede. The word originates from the Wiradjuri Aboriginal language of New South Wales, combining bila (river) and bang (a suffix indicating continuation or intensification), signifying a watercourse that flows only after rain.
Billabong is a quintessential Australian term, evoking images of the outback and the iconic song “Waltzing Matilda.” Its first recorded use is in the 1830s.
Billy
A billy is a metal container, usually cylindrical and made of tin, enamelware, or aluminum, used for boiling water and making tea over an open fire. It is fitted with a lid and a wire handle. The term comes from the Scottish dialect word billy-pot, meaning “cooking utensil,” possibly reinforced by bouilli tin (bully beef tin).
Despite a common misconception, billy is not related to the Aboriginal word billabong. Billy dates back to the 1840s and is deeply ingrained in Australian bush culture.
Billycart
A billycart is a child’s homemade go-cart. It’s a shortened version of billy-goat cart, which dates back to the 1860s. Originally, billycarts were small carts pulled by goats, used for deliveries or races. The term later expanded to include any homemade go-cart.
Billycart became common in the early 20th century and represents a tradition of resourcefulness and DIY spirit in Australian culture.
Bindi-eye
Bindi-eye refers to several plants with barbed fruits, especially herbs of the genus Calotis. The term is often shortened to bindi and has variant spellings like bindy-eye and bindii. It comes from the Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay Aboriginal languages.
Bindi-eye is considered a lawn weed due to its painful, sharp barbs that easily stick into bare feet, making it a common childhood hazard in Australia. The term bindi-eye was first recorded in the 1890s.
Bingle
A bingle can mean a fight or skirmish, or a collision, often a car accident. Bingle may originate from Cornish dialect bing (a thump or blow). Cornish dialect has contributed other mining-related terms to Australian English, such as fossick.
Bingle is frequently used to describe car collisions and emerged in the 1940s.
Bitser
A bitser is a mongrel dog – an animal made up of “bits” of different breeds. While this is the common meaning today, bitser originally referred to any contraption or vehicle made from spare parts in the 1920s. It’s an abbreviation of “bits and pieces.”
The “mongrel” sense of bitser appeared in the early 1930s and is a widely understood term for a mixed-breed dog in Australia.
Black Stump
The black stump is a mythical marker in Australian legend, representing the edge of settled land and civilization. Anything beyond the black stump is deep in the outback, remote and uncivilized, while this side of the black stump is within the known world.
Various towns claim to be the location of the original black stump, but it likely originates from the ubiquitous burnt tree stumps used as markers in the outback. This sense of black stump dates back to 1831, with the figurative meaning emerging in the late 19th century.
Blind Freddy
Blind Freddy is a term for a very unperceptive person, often used in the phrase “even blind Freddy could see that.” While not necessarily based on a real person, legend associates the term with blind Sydney figures, possibly a hawker from the 1920s or a sporting venue regular from the early 20th century.
The term Blind Freddy is first recorded in 1911 and is a common way to express obviousness in Australian English.
Blood: Your Blood’s Worth Bottling
“Your blood’s worth bottling” is an Australian expression of high praise, meaning “you’re a really valuable person!” or “you’re a loyal friend!” It’s one of many Australianisms that arose during or after World War I, alongside terms like “digger,” “Anzac,” and “Aussie.”
The phrase celebrates courage, loyalty, and mateship, and is used to commend someone for their admirable qualities.
Blouse
To blouse means to narrowly defeat a competitor, to win by a very small margin. The verb comes from the noun blouse, referring to the silk jacket worn by a jockey in horseracing. Much of the evidence for this term comes from horseracing contexts.
Blouse emerged in the 1980s and is a specific term for a very close victory, often in sporting events.
Bludger
Bludger is a word with a fascinating and somewhat unsavoury history. It originates from British slang meaning “a prostitute’s pimp,” derived from “bludgeoner” (someone carrying a bludgeon or club), implying violence.
By the 1880s, bludger appeared in Australian sources with the “pimp” meaning. However, it evolved in the early 20th century to become a more general term of abuse for someone who lives off others’ efforts, like a pimp living off a prostitute’s earnings. It was then used for white-collar workers (seen as not doing “real” work) and eventually for anyone considered an idler or shirker. The term dole bludger, for someone exploiting unemployment benefits, emerged in the 1970s. While bludger historically was strongly associated with males, the term bludgeress briefly appeared for females but did not last.
Bluey
Bluey is a versatile word in Australian English with multiple meanings. The most common is a swag – a bush traveller’s bundle of possessions – named for the traditional blue blanket used as its outer covering, also called a bluey.
Bluey as a swag dates back to 1878, romanticised in bush poetry. It later broadened to mean luggage in general. In Tasmania, a bluey is a heavy blue-grey woollen overcoat for outdoor work. Less commonly, it referred to denim overalls. Bluey also refers to a summons, especially a traffic ticket (originally printed on blue paper). Perhaps surprisingly, bluey is also used to describe a red-headed person (since 1906), and literally for blue-coloured fauna.
Bodgie
Bodgie has two meanings in Australian English, both likely from the obsolete bodger, probably from British dialect “bodge” (to work clumsily). Bodger in Australia in the 1940s-50s meant something fake or worthless.
This sense evolved into bodgie, now meaning fake or inferior. In the 1950s, bodgie also emerged to describe a male youth subculture similar to British teddy boys, characterized by specific fashion and larrikin behaviour. This sense may be an abbreviation of bodger with the -ie suffix. While the “youth subculture” sense is mostly historical, bodgie meaning “fake” remains current.
Bogan
A bogan is an uncultured, unsophisticated, and boorish person. Early use was teenage slang. While some speculate a link to the Bogan River, it’s more likely a separate coinage.
Bogan became widespread after its use by the Kylie Mole character on TV in the late 1980s. Initially derogatory, bogan has become more widely used and sometimes less negative, even jocular or affectionate. Terms like bogan chick and cashed-up bogan (CUB) have also emerged.
Bogey
To bogey means to swim or bathe. It’s borrowed from the Aboriginal Sydney Language. Early records show it in Aboriginal pidgin English from 1788.
By the 1840s, bogey was naturalised in Australian English. A noun “bogey” meaning a swim or bath also developed, and bogey hole refers to a swimming hole. The verb “bogey” is now rare in Australian English.
Bombora
A bombora is a large wave that breaks over a submerged offshore reef or rock. It can range from a swell in calm weather to a dangerous, heavily breaking wave in rougher conditions. The term also refers to the reef or rock itself.
Bombora likely comes from the Aboriginal Sydney Language, possibly referring to the current off Dobroyd Head, Port Jackson. Mostly used in New South Wales, the term dates back to 1871 and is common in surfing and fishing, often abbreviated to bommie or bommy.
Bondi Tram: Shoot Through Like a Bondi Tram
“Shoot through like a Bondi tram” is a phrase meaning to depart hastily or act quickly. Bondi is Sydney’s famous surf beach suburb. The phrase (first recorded 1943) likely comes from the Bondi tram line, where express trams would “shoot through” from Darlinghurst to Bondi Junction.
Trams stopped running on the Bondi line in 1960, but the phrase remains in Australian English.
Bonzer
Bonzer is an adjective meaning “surpassingly good, splendid, great.” It’s also a noun for something excellent and an adverb meaning “splendidly.” Bonzer may be an alteration of obsolete Australian bonster (same meaning), possibly from British dialect “bouncer” (something large). French bon (good) and US bonanza may also have influenced it.
Spellings like bonser, bonza, and bonzor were also used early on. Bonzer and its variations have been in use since the early 1900s.
Boofhead
Boofhead means a fool, simpleton, or stupid person. It comes from “buffle-headed” and “bufflehead” (fool, blockhead), terms now obsolete in standard English but surviving in Australian English as boofhead.
Popularised by the comic strip character “Boofhead” in the Sydney Daily Mail from 1941, boofhead is a common insult for a stupid person in Australia.
Boomerang
Boomerang is an Australian word that has become international English. Borrowed from an Aboriginal language near Sydney, though the exact language is uncertain. Early spellings varied greatly.
The Australian Aboriginal boomerang is a crescent-shaped wooden weapon or tool, used for hunting, warfare, and recreation. The returning boomerang, primarily for recreation, is the most well-known type. While boomerang-like objects existed elsewhere, Australia boasts the oldest and most diverse designs, with examples dating back 10,000 years. Figurative use of boomerang, meaning something returning to its originator, emerged early in Australian English and is now international, as is the verb “to boomerang.”
Bottle: The Full Bottle
“The full bottle” means knowledgeable or an expert. The phrase likely comes from 19th-century British slang “no bottle” (no good), possibly from rhyming slang “no bottle and glass” (no class). In Australia, “the full bottle” became “very good,” then “knowledgeable about something.”
Often used in the negative, “not the full bottle” means not good at something or not well-informed. “The full bottle” dates back to the 1940s.
Bottom of the Harbour
“Bottom of the harbour” refers to a tax avoidance scheme prevalent in Australia in the late 1970s. These schemes involved stripping assets from companies with large tax liabilities and then effectively disappearing the company, often by selling it to a fictitious buyer, figuratively sending it to the “bottom of the harbour” (originally Sydney Harbour) to avoid paying taxes.
The term is usually used attributively, like “bottom-of-the-harbour scheme.”
Boundary Rider
A boundary rider is an employee responsible for maintaining fences on a station (ranch) or public vermin-proof fences. This sense dates from the 1860s. With changes in technology, the occupation has become less common.
Since the 1980s, “boundary rider” has also been used for a boundary umpire in Australian Rules Football, a cricketer fielding near the boundary, and a roving sports reporter.
Bradbury: Do a Bradbury
“Do a Bradbury” means to win an event unexpectedly, coming from far behind, becoming an unlikely winner. It comes from speed skater Steven Bradbury, who won gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics after his opponents fell.
“Do a Bradbury” is now a common Australian idiom for an unlikely or unexpected victory.
Branch Stacking
Branch stacking is the practice of improperly increasing membership in a political party branch to ensure a specific candidate’s preselection. The term uses “branch” for a local party division.
While the practice is old, “branch stacking” as a term dates from the 1960s.
Bride’s Nightie: Off Like a Bride’s Nightie
“Off like a bride’s nightie” means leaving immediately or departing at full speed, making a hasty exit. Likely originating in horseracing to describe a fast-starting horse, it plays on two meanings of “be off”: “be removed” and “move quickly.”
“Off like a bride’s nightie” dates from the 1960s and is a colourful Australian idiom for a rapid departure.
Bring a Plate
“Bring a plate” is an invitation to bring a plate of food to share at a social gathering or fundraiser. Newcomers to Australia are often confused by this instruction, as it implies bringing food on a plate, not just an empty plate.
Historically, invitations were often “ladies a plate, gentlemen a donation.” “Bring a plate” dates back to the 1920s and is a standard Australian invitation for shared meals.
Brumby
Brumby refers to a wild horse in Australia. Banjo Paterson’s 1890 poem “The Man from Snowy River” vividly portrayed wild horses, known as brumbies since the early 1870s.
The origin is debated. One theory links it to “booramby” (wild) in the Pitjara Aboriginal language, near early sightings. Another suggests it comes from the name Brumby, possibly Lieutenant Brumby, who imported horses in early colonial times. A more recent theory proposes Irish bromaigh (plural of young horse).
Buckley’s Chance
“Buckley’s chance” means a forlorn hope, no prospect at all, often shortened to Buckley’s. One origin story links it to convict William Buckley, who escaped in 1803 and lived with Aboriginal people for 32 years, suggesting his escape was highly improbable.
Another, later theory connects it to Melbourne firm Buckley and Nunn, punning on “Nunn” (none) to create “Buckley’s and none.” “Buckley’s chance” dates back to 1887 and is a classic Australian expression of hopelessness.
Budgie Smugglers
Budgie smugglers is an Australian term for close-fitting male swimming briefs made of stretch fabric. It’s a variation of “grape smugglers” and one of many Aussie terms for this garment, like “bathers,” “cossies,” “speedos,” “swimmers,” and “togs.”
“Budgie” is from “budgerigar,” a small parrot. “Budgie smugglers” is a humorous allusion to the garment’s appearance. First recorded in the late 1990s.
Bulldust
Bulldust is fine, powdery dirt or dust common in inland Australia. Bulldust covered roads are hazardous, vehicles can get bogged. Likely named bulldust because it resembles soil trampled by cattle in stockyards.
Bulldust is also a euphemism for “bullshit.” Both meanings date from the 1920s.
Bull’s Roar: Not Within a Bull’s Roar
“Not within a bull’s roar” means nowhere near. A bull’s roar can be heard far away, so to be “not within a bull’s roar” is to be very distant. Sometimes used positively, “within a bull’s roar” means nearby.
A similar Aussie phrase for distance is “within a bee’s dick,” a finer measurement. “Not within a bull’s roar” dates back to the 1930s.
Bung
Bung means incapacitated, exhausted, or broken. From “bang” (dead) in the Yagara Aboriginal language of Brisbane. In 19th-century Australian pidgin, “to go bung” meant “to die.”
“Go bung” now has figurative meanings: bankrupt, failed, broken down. These emerged in the late 19th century.
Bunyip
Bunyip is an amphibious monster in Aboriginal folklore, said to inhabit inland waterways. Descriptions vary, some human-headed, others animal-bodied, often menacing and loud. It inhabits rivers, swamps, and billabongs.
Bunyip comes from the Wathaurong Aboriginal language of Victoria. First recorded in the 1840s, the bunyip is a prominent figure in Australian mythology.
Burl: Give it a Burl
“Give it a burl” means to attempt something, give it a try. It’s an Australian alteration of “give it a whirl.” “Burl” comes from English dialect “birl” (spin, whirl).
“Give it a burl” dates from the early 1900s and is a common Australian phrase for trying something out.
Bush Week: What Do You Think This Is, Bush Week?
“What do you think this is, bush week?” is a rhetorical question meaning “do you think I’m stupid?” An indignant response to being taken for a fool. Bush week originally referred to a time when country people came to the city, showcasing rural produce, and also celebrations of rural life in cities or towns.
“Bush week” senses date to the early 20th century. The phrase implies that the speaker is being mistaken for a naive country person easily fooled by city slickers. “What do you think this is, bush week?” dates from the 1940s.
