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Quiz about Tough Aussie Slang
Quiz about Tough Aussie Slang

Tough Aussie Slang Trivia Quiz


Australia is a country of complete contrasts. Because of the vast distances involved, the difference between the city dwellers and the rural residents is quite noticeable. This quiz will concentrate on the words that are more used by the 'bushies'.

A multiple-choice quiz by ozzz2002. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
ozzz2002
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
76,385
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
14 / 20
Plays
8038
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Guest 203 (16/20), Qcano (8/20), DarkeScampus (20/20).
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Question 1 of 20
1. What semi-fictitious object marks the beginning of the Outback? Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. Which activity is the 'long paddock' associated with? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. Which of the following terms is used by country people to describe a large city? Hint


Question 4 of 20
4. What are bunyips and yowies? Hint


Question 5 of 20
5. What is a thunderbox? Hint


Question 6 of 20
6. The Coolgardie Safe was invented on the Western Australian goldfields in the 19th century. What was it used for? Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. What name is given to a large landholding in rural Australia? Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. The freshwater crayfish, scientific name cheerax destructor, is more commonly known as what? Hint


Question 9 of 20
9. What name is given to a sheep thief? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. Introduced in 1958, what is the largest commercially available beer bottle in the world? Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. A 'B. and S. Ball' is sometimes the only occasion where young adults can meet members of the opposite sex in a party atmosphere. What do these letters stand for? Hint


Question 12 of 20
12. What is Bullamakanka? Hint


Question 13 of 20
13. Another example of the ingenuity of Australians is the invention of the lagerphone. But what is a lagerphone? Hint


Question 14 of 20
14. You may be familiar with the Aussie folk song 'Waltzing Matilda', but who or what is Matilda? Hint


Question 15 of 20
15. What is a bitzer? Hint


Question 16 of 20
16. What uniquely Australian word is recognised as a call for help from someone lost in the bush? Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. In Aussie rhyming slang what is a 'dogs eye with dead horse'? Hint


Question 18 of 20
18. Which of the following words does NOT mean 'to have a look'? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. What title is given to the best sheep shearer in a shearing shed? Hint


Question 20 of 20
20. What is the 'great Australian salute' used for? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 29 2024 : Guest 203: 16/20
Oct 29 2024 : Qcano: 8/20
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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What semi-fictitious object marks the beginning of the Outback?

Answer: the Black Stump

Some doubt exists over its location; jointly claimed by Merriwagga and Hillston in New South Wales and Blackall in Queensland, it is the 'back of beyond'. The Merriwagga story tells of a farmer who went to work, and on arriving home, found his house burnt and the remains of his wife looking like a 'black stump'.
2. Which activity is the 'long paddock' associated with?

Answer: droving stock

During periods of drought, which, unfortunately, are too common, farmers are forced to take their sheep or cattle on the roads and stock routes looking for feed. The long paddock is the stock route bounded by other farms fences.
3. Which of the following terms is used by country people to describe a large city?

Answer: Big Smoke

Many bushies only go to 'town' when absolutely necessary and are very easy to pick out of a crowd. They are the ones staring at the tall buildings, usually dressed in elastic-sided riding boots, Akubra hats and flannelette shirts. A sundowner is a swagman who arrives at a farmers house at sundown- after all the work is done but before the evening meal is served.
4. What are bunyips and yowies?

Answer: mythical creatures

Bunyips have existed in aboriginal legend as an evil spirit for thousands of years, but versions of what they actually look like range from a snake-like creature to a part-man, part-ape. The prehistoric diprotodon has also been suggested. The common thread is the sound that they make, a deep and very loud 'booming' noise.

This sound has been attributed, in some circles, to the bittern, a large water-bird. A yowie is supposedly similar to the American Bigfoot or the Himalayan yeti. The existence or otherwise of either creature has yet to be proven, and personally, I hope that it never is. I love a good legend...
5. What is a thunderbox?

Answer: an outside toilet

Because people live many miles from the nearest town plumbing systems, they had to build their own toilets. Many of these were a good trek from the house and consisted of a wooden seat over a large pit. Also known as a long-drop, for obvious reasons.
6. The Coolgardie Safe was invented on the Western Australian goldfields in the 19th century. What was it used for?

Answer: keeping food cool

A primitive but effective refrigerator, named after a Western Australian town, the safe works on a simple principle. A wooden-framed box with wire netting sides had a tray of water sitting atop it. A hessian cloth bag is hung from the water tray and down the sides of the structure.

The cloth absorbs the water from the tray, the breeze provides evaporation and the air and food inside the safe cools down. Just one example of the ingenuity of the Australians.
7. What name is given to a large landholding in rural Australia?

Answer: a station

Anna Creek cattle station covered over 30,000 sq kms (12,000 sq miles) in its heyday. Compare this to the largest US ranch of 1,200 square miles. In the 19th century Sir Sydney Kidman, the 'Cattle King' owned a series of stations with a combined area greater than that of the United Kingdom.
8. The freshwater crayfish, scientific name cheerax destructor, is more commonly known as what?

Answer: a yabby

The destructor reference refers to the damage they can cause by burrowing into dams and irrigation channel banks. To catch a yabby, simply attach a piece of meat to a short piece of cotton, wait for it to grab the bait in its claws, and slowly drag it to shore. A plate of cooked yabbies makes a very nice meal. Pippies and abalone are shellfish and a lobster is a saltwater crayfish.
9. What name is given to a sheep thief?

Answer: Duffer

Rustler is the American term and usually refers to cattle and a 'tea-leaf' is English rhyming slang for 'thief'.
10. Introduced in 1958, what is the largest commercially available beer bottle in the world?

Answer: Darwin Stubby

Alcoholics Anonymous attempted to set up a branch in Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory, but it closed through lack of interest. The Darwin Stubby, more of a tourist gimmick, holds a mammoth 2.25 litres (over half a gallon) of Northern Territory Draught.

The human record for drinking one is just over a minute, however, Norman, a water buffalo regularly throws one down in half that time.
11. A 'B. and S. Ball' is sometimes the only occasion where young adults can meet members of the opposite sex in a party atmosphere. What do these letters stand for?

Answer: Bachelors and Spinsters

Usually uproarious affairs, they are slowly in decline because of drink-driving laws and spiralling insurance premiums. Awash with beer and Rum and Cokes, it is an annual chance to let the hair down.
12. What is Bullamakanka?

Answer: an imaginary town

A non-existent town way out beyond the Black Stump. Also a sarcastic answer to the question 'Where do you come from?'. Nearby is the other fictional town of Woop-Woop.
13. Another example of the ingenuity of Australians is the invention of the lagerphone. But what is a lagerphone?

Answer: a musical instrument

A broomstick, or any other piece of wood that is handy, has beer bottle tops loosely nailed to it. By shaking it or banging it on the floor, you have an instant percussion instrument. Perhaps not equivalent to a grand piano, but it is much easier to make.
14. You may be familiar with the Aussie folk song 'Waltzing Matilda', but who or what is Matilda?

Answer: a roll of blankets

Also called a swag, it was slung across both shoulders and contained all the worldly possessions of a swagman. Swagmen, sometimes by choice but mainly by necessity, were itinerants who wandered all over the country looking for work. Another term for this activity was 'humping bluey'. Similar to the American 'hobo' or 'tramp'.
15. What is a bitzer?

Answer: a dog

A working dog of indeterminate lineage. Bits of this, bits of that; an example of the Australian habit of shortening words.
16. What uniquely Australian word is recognised as a call for help from someone lost in the bush?

Answer: Cooee

Possibly originating from the call of the bird of the same name, the emphasis is placed on the 'coo' syllable. Also means 'not with close range' as in 'England did not come within cooee of beating Australia in the cricket game.' Hooroo? or 'ooroo? is a slang way of saying 'goodbye'.
17. In Aussie rhyming slang what is a 'dogs eye with dead horse'?

Answer: a pie with sauce

Dogs eye = pie, dead horse= tomato sauce. Logical, eh? Rhyming slang has been 'borrowed' from Cockney Londoners and modified to fit the local environment.
18. Which of the following words does NOT mean 'to have a look'?

Answer: to rabbit

More rhyming slang. Butchers hook and Captain Cook both rhyme with 'look'. 'Dekko' was borrowed from the British who, in turn, borrowed it from a Hindi word.
19. What title is given to the best sheep shearer in a shearing shed?

Answer: Ringer

Also known as the 'gun' shearer, the man who shears the most sheep is said to have 'rung the shed'. The snagger is usually among the slowest. A great shearing song called 'Click goes the Shears' can be found using Google.com.
20. What is the 'great Australian salute' used for?

Answer: chasing away flies

A back-handed movement of the hand to chase those pesky summer insects away. Contrary to popular belief, hats with hanging corks are rarely seen, except maybe at costume parties.
Source: Author ozzz2002

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
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