New Zealand Language 2 Trivia Quiz

Answer: An expression of disbelief

The phrase is generally used in response to a statement made that is so suprising that it defies belief and is suspected of being a lie/joke. For example someone may say " I can eat thirty hamburgers for lunch" the response is likely to be "get off the grass": in other words "I can't really believe you - convince me".

Answer: An event gone wrong

Used when describing an event that was going well when it suddenly went astray, such as "I was skiing down the slope and impressing the girls when it all turned to custard". The speaker then goes on to explain how it all came to grief/failed: "I hit a hidden rock and broke my leg, ending the holiday".

Answer: He is saying that the door has been left open

The phrase is used when someone enters a room (or leaves one) and leaves the door open, letting a draft or cold wind in the room. The inference is that the culprit must not know how to use a door so must have been raised in a tent (with no doors).

Answer: That something is freely available to everyone

The expression is used to indicate that there are no boundaries on participation. For example a politician may have been caught in a lie, the result may be "it's now open slather for the newspapers" meaning they have freedom to print what they like without fear of censure. Also used for example when food has been put out at a party and everyone can just take what they want when they want: "It's open slather on the food" may be the call from the host.

Answer: A toilet

A long drop is a toilet without plumbing, generally in a small hut and set up over a hole in the ground. This was the only type of toilet available in rural areas in the past. Now it's generally a temporary toilet in the bush used when hunting or camping, and is indicative of rustic life.

Answer: A university student

Scarfies are university students and the name arises from the scalves they were seen wearing to university in the colder parts of the country, like Dunedin in the South Island. There is even a NZ feature film called "Scarfies".

Answer: A carpenter

New Zealanders "get a chippy in" when they want to have professional repairs done around their house. The phrase comes from the "wood chips" that a carpenter/builder will leave around after doing the woodwork.

Answer: An amusing charactor

"Hardcase" is used to describe a charactor who is somewhat of a story teller or acts in an amusing but natural manner. In other words, an unpretentious, down to earth, genuine person who amuses by their directness of actions or use of words.

Answer: A secondary character

The description is used when there is a central character accompanied by someone of little consequence or is unknown. For example, "I saw Fred Smith and his offsider fishing on Saturday". Clearly the "newsworthy" part of this was that Fred Smith was fishing on Saturday. Of secondary interest was the fact he was not alone - the identity of the other person was of no interest.

Answer: Unsuccessfully organising a meeting

Reworded the phrase says " I was trying to "slip away from what I was doing" and "organise" a "talk/meeting" in a "rural area" with "someone who was likely to avoid the meeting" and before he "got scared" and before "my wife" "got angry" and "chastised/punished" me, but he "died".