Australian Colloquialisms Part 2 Quiz

Answer: The remote outback to keep the dust out of their eyes

In the outback the crows fly backwards to keep the dust out of their eyes. The phrase comes from the Folk song, written and sung by an Aboriginal itinerant worker, Dougie Young, to entertain his friends at the end of the day's work. His anthropologist friend, Jeremy Beckett, convinced Dougie to record some of his songs in 1963.

The song has since been covered by Gary Shearston, Athol McCoy, Chad Morgan and Roger Knox. (Question by Miker68).

Answer: Australian Box Jellyfish

"Stingers" is the nickname given to the Australian Box Jellyfish, which is claimed to be the most venomous marine animal known to mankind, and its sting can be fatal. People injected with this poison may experience paralysis, cardiac arrest, and even death, all within a few minutes of being stung.

The Australian Box Jellyfish is the largest of the box jellyfish, with tentacles up to 3 meters (10 feet) long. If it wasn't scary enough with the crocodiles, snakes and spiders, Australians also have to deal with marine life, and, for the record, the Australian Box Jellyfish is considered Number 1 on the list of Australia's Deadliest Creatures.

This probably explains why Australians appear so relaxed when visiting other countries, nature isn't trying to kill them! So if you see the sign "Beware Stingers" please don't go in the water. (Question by Miker68).

Answer: mistaking you as a fool

"Bush week" is a time when people from the country came to a city, generally when the city exhibitions displayed the produce of the farming communities. The original Bush Week was held in Sydney, February 1920. By using the stereotypes of the gullible country bumpkin and the shrewd city dwellers, the phrase implies that people from the cities can easily fool the people from the country. Thus the speaker of the phrase "What do you think this is, Bush Week?" resents being regarded as a fool. (Question by Kris148).

Answer: a person's incompetence

A "dunny" is slang for the toilet. The choko vine is a tenacious and quick-growing plant. They were popular during the depression years as they took little, if any, looking after, and were common in Australian backyards as a cheap source of food. They spread over and along fences, sheds and, of course, the "dunny" which was located as an outhouse in the depression era.
Australians have numerous phrases relating to incompetence. Some of the publishable ones on this site are:
"He couldn't pick a winner in a one horse race".
"He couldn't sell beer to a drover".
"He couldn't sell ice cream in hell".
(Question by Zedwad).

Answer: A mongrel dog

The most common reference today is a dog (or any other animal) which is made up of "bits of this, bits of that" i.e. "Bitser". In the 1920s, "bitser" referred to any vehicle or piece of machinery that was made of spare parts with odd bits and pieces added to get it working. "Bitser" in the mongrel sense has been used since the early 1930s. (Question by Miker68).

Answer: to brag or boast about one's achievements

With the Australian pound, the pre-decimal currency, the larger the denomination, the bigger the banknote, so those who bet large sums of money were called the "big noters". Ultimately, people who were showing off by flashing large sums of money were associated with these "big noters" and the terminology arose. With time, the term extended to also include exaggerations of one's own importance, or achievements. (Question by Miker68).

Answer: A lout or an exhibitionist

Today the term "Hoon" refers to a young male who drives dangerously or recklessly, and in this regard "Hoon" has become part of the Australian vernacular language to the point it is used in government legislation. By 2008, most States and Territories had their own "hoon laws" or "anti-hoon laws".

In the 1950s the term "Hoon" referred to prostitution pimps, and prior to that, it referred to a boisterous, badly behaved young man (the term "Larrikin" now refers to that meaning). The origin of the term is unclear, but one explanation is that Australians will contract words, and the word hooligan shortened would be "Hoon". (Question by Redlandman).

Answer: to wear no shirt in public

The term "gutser" (sometimes spelled gutzer, gutsa) has been used since the 1910s. Most English speaking societies are familiar with the term "to fall on one's face (or ass)" which has similar connotations to "falling on one's gut". The noun form of the word "gutser" is a person who eats too much.
(Question by Miker68).

Answer: Nothing

To have a "Dingo's Breakfast" is to wake up and have a yawn, a scratch, urinate and have a look round (i.e. no breakfast). The dingo is a wild dog found in Australia. One of the main natural causes of death is starvation and dehydration during times of drought, which are regular occurrences in Australia.

It is tough life for the dingo considering they are prevalent in the desert regions of Australia. To make a complete mess of something is referred to as "Dog's Breakfast". (Question by Zedwad).

Answer: Oi, oi, oi

"Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi" is a chant often performed at Australian sport events. "Oi!" was originally, and still is, a rude way to get attention especially if the user is irritated by happenings. If travelling to Australia it is not recommended to use "Oi" directed at people in the service industry as Australians don't work for tips so they will more than likely ignore rudeness. With time, the word "Oi" has evolved, and is now also used to obtain the attention of friends ("Mates") as an indication "I am here". Thus the chant "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" is a call for all other Australians to identify themselves and "Oi, Oi, Oi" is the response "We are here". (Question by Miker68).