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Quiz about Australianisms
Quiz about Australianisms

Australianisms Trivia Quiz


Over the past 40 to 50 years, Australians have lost a treasury of terms. Television, books, movies and political correctness have all been responsible for giving Aussie kids a whole new language. Just how well do you know true Australian?

A multiple-choice quiz by support5. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
support5
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
231,229
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
1686
Last 3 plays: alaspooryoric (2/10), Guest 124 (10/10), Guest 1 (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. "I haven't got a zack to my name." In pre-decimal currency, how much was a "zack"? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. If an Australian called you a "bit of a drongo", what would he be implying you were? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. If an Australian girl was told, "It's snowing down south," what would it mean? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. If your actions are incredibly silly, an Australian might tell you that you are as "mad as a cut (what)"? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. If you lived a long way away, you lived "beyond the (what)"? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. If a person is told,"You wouldn't shout if a shark bit you," what did he/she mean? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. If an Australian asks you, "What do you do for a crust?" What does he mean? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. What did being "a sandwich short of a picnic" imply? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. During the depression when food was scarce, many people lived on "underground mutton". What was "underground mutton"? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Now for a real corker! If your best mate "whiteants" you, what has he done? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 30 2024 : alaspooryoric: 2/10
Oct 11 2024 : Guest 124: 10/10
Sep 11 2024 : Guest 1: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. "I haven't got a zack to my name." In pre-decimal currency, how much was a "zack"?

Answer: sixpence

The term "zack" was popular in the 40s and 50s. Other money terms were a "2 bob" -2 shillings, a "trey bit" - threepence and a "deener" - a shilling.
2. If an Australian called you a "bit of a drongo", what would he be implying you were?

Answer: a fool or idiot

A drongo is a bird of the crow family which has its habitat in south-east Asia and Africa.
3. If an Australian girl was told, "It's snowing down south," what would it mean?

Answer: That her petticoat was showing below her dress hem

Women wore petticoats (usually white), or at least half-slips under their dresses. If the slip dropped below the level of the hemline, "it was snowing down south."
4. If your actions are incredibly silly, an Australian might tell you that you are as "mad as a cut (what)"?

Answer: Snake

A cut snake performs some incredible gyrations which appear quite ridiculous. hence "as mad as a cut snake". The phrase is also used to describe someone whose behavior when outraged by some event shows a similar lack of focus.
5. If you lived a long way away, you lived "beyond the (what)"?

Answer: Black stump

There is supposed to be a black stump past the town of Bourke in far west New South Wales.
6. If a person is told,"You wouldn't shout if a shark bit you," what did he/she mean?

Answer: You're tight-fisted/miserly

The term "shout' in this case applies to buying something for someone; for example, if there are two or three people drinking together, they are in a shout. They take turns in paying for the round of drinks. If someone wouldn't shout if a shark bit him, he is loath to pay his way in the "shout".
7. If an Australian asks you, "What do you do for a crust?" What does he mean?

Answer: What is your occupation?

This expression became common during the depression years when jobs were scarce and food even scarcer.
8. What did being "a sandwich short of a picnic" imply?

Answer: A bit mad/stupid

Many such terms were used to imply a lack of sanity or stupidity. "His lift doesn't go all the way to the top floor" and "He's missing a few marbles" were just two more.
9. During the depression when food was scarce, many people lived on "underground mutton". What was "underground mutton"?

Answer: Rabbit

During the depression, Australia was infested with rabbits. Catching rabbits became as much a job as a pastime.
10. Now for a real corker! If your best mate "whiteants" you, what has he done?

Answer: Stolen your girlfriend

The whiteant is a termite. They are so technically clever, that they can eat into a piece of painted timber and leave the paint in the exact shape of the timber,so that you are unaware the wood has been eaten. As with your best mate sneaking under your guard and stealing your girl and you know nothing about it till they get married.
Source: Author support5

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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