Tough Aussie Slang Trivia Quiz

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'.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

Answer: Duffer

Rustler is the American term and usually refers to cattle and a 'tea-leaf' is English rhyming slang for 'thief'.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'.

Answer: a dog

A working dog of indeterminate lineage. Bits of this, bits of that; an example of the Australian habit of shortening words.

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'.

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.

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.

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.

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.