Slang Handbook 09

By Dr Anna Chur-Hansen and students

Talking about health and illness

Australian slang handbook

2009 Edition

Document: A2O-ED-IG-RE-0004-02 Page 2 of 34 Author: Dr Anna Chur-Hansen Approved by: Medical Education Manager Last updated: September 2009

Copyright 1998 University of Adelaide Department of Psychiatry. Used with permission. This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the publisher. Inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Publications Officer. The 1998 version was contributed to in 2005 by Victoria Cheng, Alison Chew, Chen Kean Choy, Sue Ann Loh, Kelvin Lye & Siew Lee Shu, and in 2006 by Vanessa Tee, Priya, Desmond Ong, Chin Jong Khen and Chua Su Ling This edition adapted with permission. Adapted version published & printed by: Adelaide to Outback GP Training Program Lower Level, 183 Melbourne Street NORTH ADELAIDE 5006 Document: A2O-ED-IG-RE-0004-02 Adapted by: Senior Education Research Officer Editor: Publications Officer


CONTENTS

What is colloquial English? ............................................................................................................................... 2

Why is it important for GPs to know slang?.................................................................................................. 3

What can I do if someone uses informal language that I dont understand? ........................................ 4

A strategy for use in the clinical situation....................................................................................................... 4

What strategies are there for learning this sort of language?................................................................... 5

What are some common slang words that a patient might use? ............................................................. 6

Index of Australian slang .................................................................................................................................... 1


WHAT IS COLLOQUIAL ENGLISH? There are different styles of language that a person can use depending upon the situation they are

in. Sociolinguistics considers how language reflects not only the meaning of the words, but the

speakers relationship to the listener, and their age, gender, socio-economic background and so

on.

Elaborated versus restricted codes of language are important ways of identifying and thinking

about language use. That is, people who are well educated or well read might use longer, more

complex sentences and have a greater vocabulary at their disposal (elaborated code), as

compared to others, whose speech may be less varied (restricted code).

In Australia, most people use informal speech: slang, or colloquial English. Some people use it

more often than others, but most people use it, especially in informal situations, regardless of

whether their usual code is restricted or elaborated. Sociolinguistics shows us how some slang

belongs to certain age groups, or people with certain educational backgrounds, and so on.

Some Australian people use American slang, but certainly we have a great deal of slang and

informal speech that is unique to us and is not shared by other English speakers. The specific

form of English (with all of its slang included) used in Australia is referred to as Australian English.

Slang is shaped by the culture of the people, and its use is contextually dependent. Many things

that we say to each other have historical roots, or come from our environment, like sayings based

on references to the weather or animals or plants that are from here. Some slang is specific to a

particular state or to the country as opposed to the city, and so on. Informal speech makes it

difficult to learn a new language because it is often not written down anywhere; if it is written

down it is fairly meaningless if taken out of context.

Australian slang is often based on rude or vulgar words. However, the meaning may be quite the

opposite. To give an example, one man might say to another, you old bastard!. That would not

necessarily mean that the person was elderly, or had parents who were not married to each other.

If said with a smile or a slap on the back, it is a term of affection; if said in anger, it means that an

argument might be about to happen; if said with a sly grin it might mean that the person is

cunning or clever. Nonverbal communication used together with slang is often very important in

correctly interpreting what the slang words actually mean.


WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR GPs TO KNOW SLANG? Doctors need to know a great deal of medical terminology that they use when communicating

effectively with the colleagues, and must be able to use the correct, educated, elaborated code

of English.

However, this way of speaking is not sufficient if it is the only way in which you know how to

speak. You need to be able to interact with Australian colleagues and reception staff, members of

the community, your teachers and mentors. If you speak very formally all the time, you may

discover that people dont warm to you. They may feel uncomfortable with your interaction. They

may also perceive that you dont understand what they are saying. Therefore, they might restrict

their language to a very basic, formal level in response to yours. This is not a good start in building

rapport between you and other people, and it is not good for the development of your language

skills because you wont get to hear everyday Australian English.

You also need to know slang because you have to talk to patients. You are expected to listen to

people, understand them, and be able to accommodate their language level. An important skill for

you as the doctor is the ability to engage this such language accommodation, to be able to

communicate with a patient so that they understand you; doing so will foster the relationship

between you.

A GP is expected not only to master the appropriate communication skills to be a doctor, such as

rapport, open-ended questions and so on, but also to have a level of English-language proficiency

that is adequate for their doctor-patient interactions. Your proficiency must encompass not only

technical jargon, but everyday, informal language as well. Patients will often use polite forms of

language with the doctor, but their vocabulary may sometimes be limited to slang. During times of

emotional distress, patients may revert to speech that they have learned earlier in life, or which

they commonly use in their everyday life. This will include slang.


WHAT CAN I DO IF SOMEONE USES INFORMAL LANGUAGE THAT I DONT UNDERSTAND? There are probably thousands of examples of slang words. No one could possibly be expected to

know them all. People may well say things that dont seem to make sense to you. The big mistake

here is to pretend that you know what they are talking about when you are not sure.

Below are two strategies you can use when you dont understand:

1. Simply ask them what they mean. There is nothing at all wrong with doing this.

2. Use your knowledge of communications skills to summarise what they have said as you

understand it. That way, if you are mistaken they can tell you so.

A strategy for use in the clinical situation.

1. Ask the patient what they mean. Ensure that you use open ended questions, to facilitate

rapport and openness. For example, you might ask, Im not sure what you mean by that;

are you able to explain it for me? or, Im not familiar with that word/phrase, what does it

mean? Similarly, you could summarise what the patient has said as you have understood

it, so that they can tell you if you are mistaken.

2. Write down the word in a notebook dedicated to the purpose.

3. After the consult, or when you have a list of words, take your notebook with you to your

mentor, or someone who you trust, and ask them what it means.

4. Ensure you find out who would use the word/phrase;

what circumstances the word/phrase is used in; what

the word/phrase means; to whom the word/phrase

might be used.


WHAT STRATEGIES ARE THERE FOR LEARNING THIS SORT OF LANGUAGE? You cannot learn a great deal about informal language from a book. The kind of approach to

language acquisition you need for informal or slang language is an active rather than a passive

one. Certainly you can look at the books for examples and for interest, and there are some books

that demonstrate informal Australian English very well, but real people and the spoken word is far

more valuable to you here.

So, what specifically can you do to gain some idea of our informal language?

1. Talk to people. Talk to your friends and colleagues. This is not as easily done as said, but you will discover that usually the effort in overcoming your fear or nerves will be

repaid in many ways. You might find out that there are some people who are quite happy

to share their knowledge of informal language with you.

2. Participate actively in your community. If you have time, try to join a sporting club, or a social club or organisation. Not only will it help you become part of your community, it is

a good way of finding out about how people speak in your immediate context. Other ways

you might find of doing this are by actively participating in activities that your childrens

school put together, or by going to the pub for a drink or a meal

3. Notice what people say. Keep an exercise book of words that you hear people, in your immediate context and region, or in the media, which you dont understand. Then ask

someone what the words mean and write the meanings down next to them. Be sure to

find out what the term means, who would be most likely to use it, under what

circumstances, and to whom.

Keep building on the list, and eventually you will have a good resource of informal

language specific to your region. We encourage you to share them with other IMGs by

forwarding your lists to Adelaide to Outback; we will update the lists in the rear of this

handbook, so that the resource continues to be valid and useful.


WHAT ARE SOME COMMON SLANG WORDS THAT A PATIENT MIGHT USE? There are many different figures of speech that a patient might use to refer to body functions,

parts of their anatomy, their state of health, what they have been doing, and so on. Some common

ones are listed on the following pages.

Remember, this is not an exhaustive list by any means. It is meant to serve as a reference for you.

Add colloquialisms of your own where you find that they are not included here.

The index, which commences on the next page, will provide you with a list in alphabetical order,

which will help you to find the words and phrases that you need with ease.

INDEX OF AUSTRALIAN SLANG This index is in alphabetical order by word and by phrase. Phrases are listed in their entirety, for

ease of reference.

Word Context of Use Meaning/ other notes

Ace! Thats ace! Excellent, very good

Aliens Visited by aliens Menstruation (older)

Amber fluid Get some amber fluid into yer Beer (old fashioned, rural)

Ambo Hes an ambo Ambulance driver, paramedic

Ankle biters Ive got three ankle biters Young children

Apeshit He went apeshit Got very angry. Vulgar expression.

Arab Got an arab Dry mouth

Around the bend She went round the bend

Mentally unwell/ unstable Used in the third person.

Arse On my arse (referring to arse) Vulgar term for bottom.

Arse Hes a pain in the arse What a pain in the arse Its a pain in the arse

Expression of annoyance or irritation. Vulgar

B & S Bachelor and Spinsters ball, held in rural areas

Back of bourke

a long way away, up the back o bourke A very long way away

Back out Ive put my back out I have a sore back

Back passage Anus



Bail up He bailed her up in the pub. To corner somebody

Balls My balls are itchy. Scrotum

Bananas He went bananas

Mentally unwell/ unstable. Also can mean angry, depending on context of nonverbal language Used in the third person.

Bathroom Visit the bathroom Go to the toilet

Bent Im nice and bent Affected by drugs. Most commonly used to refer to marijuana

Berserk I went berserk Very angry

Better half This is my better half. Partner

Bingle She was in a bingle. Motor vehicle accident

Birds Birds are all the same. Women/ females. (old fashioned)

Bludger Shes a real bludger. Lazy person

Blue Im feeling blue Sad, depressed

Blue There was a blue in the pub on Saturday night. Fight (rural)

Bogans The place was full of bogans. White trash, people in low socioeconomic areas

Bollocks Scrotum (vulgar)

Boobs My boobs hurt. Breasts



Bottle-O It was in the bottle-o. Drive through bottle shop

Bound up Im a bit bound up Constipated (older people)

Boys/ girls room Visit the little boys room Bathroom/ toilet

Brekkie Breakfast

Bricks short of a load Hes two bricks short of a load Lacking in intellect/ a bit stupid

Buckleys

Youve got buckleys You know how many chances youve got dont yer? Buckleys and none.

You dont have much chance

Bugger off Why dont yer just bugger off out of it! To leave/ go away (commonly used in irritation)

Buggered I feel buggered Tiredness

Bulldust Thats bulldust! Not true

Bum steer Ive been given a bum steer Misled

Bummer What a bummer Disappointing. Used by younger people.

Bun in the oven Shes got a bun in the oven Pregnant

Bushed Im bushed Tiredness

Bushed I was completely bushed Lost (mainly rural)

Butterflies Ive got butterflies in my stomach Anxiety, nervousness. Females probably say this more than males.



Cable Lay a cable Faeces

Cancer sticks I bought some cancer sticks Cigarettes (old fashioned) (mainly rural)

Carked it She carked it Died

Check it out Oh, check it out! Look (younger people)

Cheers Thanks

Chicks Women/ females. Most common among young people and surfers

Chip off the old block Hes a real chip off the old block Child resembles the parent (old fashioned)

Chook Like a chook with its head cut off Chook = chicken chook with its head cut off = flustered

Chook Old chook Mum/ wife

Chuck I chucked Vomit

Chunder I chundered all over the floor. Vomit (mostly younger people)

Clap Shes got the clap Gonorrhoea

Cloud 9 Shes on cloud 9 Very Happy

Cold day in hell

It will be a cold day in hell when I Expression of strong defiance

Cold one Dyer wanna cold one? Beer



Cold Turkey Go cold turkey Abstain from using drink/ drugs, after having used them in considerable quantities over a period of time

Coldie I had a coldie. Beer

Cool Sounds cool Oh, cool Yeah, thats cool

Good, okay, excellent. Can be combined with words like fun: ie, cool fun

Cotton mouth Gave me complete cotton mouth. Dry mouth

Counted sheep Shes counting sheep Sleeping/ fell asleep

Crack the whip He cracked the whip Working hard

Crap

I feel like crap It was crap This is crap This tastes like crap

A general descriptor meaning bad (vulgar). Also a vulgar term for faeces.

Crazy Hes crazy She went crazy

Mentally unwell. Can sometimes mean angry depending on context. Used in the third person.

Crick I have a crick in my neck Sore neck

Crock What a crock! Not true

Crook I feel crook Unwell

Crook That tasted crook Bad

Curse Got the curse Menstruation (older)

Cut [persons] lunch

The bugger cut Dicks lunch. Steal someones partner

Cut snake Shes as mad as a cut snake Mentally unwell (old fashioned). Used in the third person.



Cut snake She was as mad as a cut snake Angry, depending on context. (old fashioned). Used in the third person.

Dad Husband (older)

Daries Got any daries? Cigarettes (youth, rural)

Darts Got any darts? Cigarettes (rural)

Dead beat Im dead beat Tired

Dicky He has a dicky heart Doesnt work properly

Dill Oh, youre a dill! Silly

Dim A bit dim Lacking in intellect/a bit stupid

Ditzy Didnt think I was that ditzy Air-headed, silly, forgetful

Dodgy Thats dodgy Not very good quality

Dogs dinner, done like a

Im done like a dogs dinner Tiredness (old fashioned)

Done and dusted All done and dusted Deliberately forget about things. (old fashioned)

Done in Im done in Tiredness (old fashioned)

Doodle My doodle hurts. Penis (esp with children)

Doornail Dead as a doornail Dead



Down I feel down Sad, depressed

Downer Shes on a downer Sad, depressed

Downer What a downer. Disappointing. Used by younger people.

Downhill Its all downhill from here Things are going badly and will probably get worse. (old fashioned)

Drongo Oh you drongo! Im not a bloody drongo! Idiot

Dropped off I just dropped off Fell asleep

Dry out I need to dry out Abstain from using alcohol after consuming quite a bit over a period of time.

Duffer Youre a duffer! Silly (usually to young children who hurt themselves in a minor way)

Dugans I had a dugan Cigarettes (younger people)

Dumps Im down in the dumps Sad, depressed.

Elbow grease Just needs a bit of elbow grease

Work hard Hard work (eg scrubbing)

Fags I bought some fags Cigarettes

Fair to middling Im fair to middling Feeling alright (old fashioned)

Fart Pissed as a fart Drunk

Fart She farted Pass flatulence



Fat as a pig Im fat as a pig. Overweight. Insulting when directed at someone.

Fatso What a fatso! Overweight. Insulting when directed at someone

Fish out of water I felt like a fish out of water Alien or out of place

Fit as a fiddle Im fit as a fiddle Feeling good/ fit/ well

Flat as a tack She seemed flat as a tack Sad, depressed. Can also mean tired.

Flat strap Working flat strap Working hard

Forty winks Shes having forty winks Sleeping

Frog I have a frog in my throat Sore throat that affects the voice

Front passage Problem with the front passage Trouble with urinary tract, usually passing urine

Full packet Not the full packet Mentally unwell/ unstable Used in the third person.

Full quid Hes not the full quid Intellectual disability. Less often it is used to mean mentally unwell/ unstable Used in the third person.

Ga-ga Shes gone ga-ga Mentally unwell/ unstable Used in the third person.

Galah Youre a galah! Silly (rural)

Gammy She has a gammy leg Immobile, damaged, painful (old fashioned)

Gander Have a gander Look (older people)



Glad rags Get your glad rags on Dressed up

Goog Egg

Full as a goog Im full as a goog Overeat

Hair brained Shes bloody hair-brained Silly

Hairy-arsed goat

Running around like a hairy-arsed goat

Flustered (vulgar). Mainly used in rural areas.

Hatter Mad as a hatter Mentally unwell Used in the third person.

Head down, bum up Working hard

Hell broke loose All hell broke loose!

Things went a bit crazy; people got angry. Not used to refer directly to people or things.

Hell for leather She was going hell for leather Very fast

Hell for leather Working hard

High High as a kite Affected by drugs

Home and hosed Its home and hosed Finished

Hoons rough people

How are you going?

Greeting; return reply is good thanks, not bad, and you, how are you?

Hubbie/Hubby Husband



Hungries Lets go to Hungries Hungry Jacks (urban)

Hurl Ooh, he hurled Vomit

Iffy Feeling iffy Unwell

Iffy Its a bit iffy Uncertain

In a bind In a difficult situation (old fashioned)

In a spot In a difficult situation (old fashioned)

Itchy bits Ive got itchy bits, doc Itchy genitals

Jubba What a jubba! Overweight. Insulting when directed at someone.

Kicked the bucket

He kicked the bucket the other day Died

Kids Children

Knackered Im knackered Tiredness

Knocked up Hes knocked her up Shes knocked up Pregnant

Legless He was legless Drunk

Lights are on but no-ones home

Lacking in intellect/ a bit stupid

Like a chimney She smokes like a chimney Heavy smoke



Like a fish She drinks like a fish Drinks a lot of alcohol, alcoholic

Like a light Out like a light Fall asleep

Like a train He smokes like a train Heavy smoker

Little woman This is my little woman Wife (older)

Load Take a load off Take a load off your feet Sit down

Loo Im going to the loo. Toilet

Loopy Shes loopy Mentally unwell Used in the third person.

Lord Drunk as a lord Drunk (old fashioned)

Lost it She got upset and lost it Angry, very angry

Lost the plot He lost the plot Angry. Also mentally unwell/ unstable, depending on full context of use Used in the third person.

Lousy Im feeling lousy Very unwell

Lousy Thats lousy! Awful

Lousy This food tastes lousy Awful

Lurgey Ive got the lurgey An illness going around at the time

Maccas Lets go to maccas McDonalds take away



Make yourself scarce

Go on, make yourself scarce. To leave/ go away

Mental Chuck a mental Got very angry. Usually used by younger people.

Mental Shes mental Youre mental. Intellectual disability. Derogatory term, used as an insult, mainly by younger people.

Missus Gotta ask the missus Wife/ female partner

Monthlies Ive got my monthlies Menstruation/ menstruating. Older people.

Mother Wife (older)

Mr Wobbly Penis

Newt Pissed as a newt Drunk

Nick off She nicked off! To leave

Nick off Why dont you just nick off! Go away (used in argument)

Nodded off He nodded off! Fell asleep

Noggin Watch your noggin! Head. Often used to describe ones head (older people), or in speaking to children

Nose to the grindstone Working hard

Number one Urine (esp used with children)

Number Two Faeces (esp used with children)



Nuts Hes nuts Mentally unwell Used in the third person.

Nuts Oooh me nuts! testicles

Off Im feeling a bit off Unwell

Off colour I feel off colour Unwell

Off his head He was totally off his head Affected by drugs

Off my face I was completely off my face. Affected by alcohol or drugs

Off the planet He was off the planet Affected by drugs

Old fella The old fella hasnt been quite up to it lately. Penis

Old man Husband (older people) Dad (younger people)

One-eyed trouser snake

Penis

Other half This is my other half. Partner

Out of it I was out of it Affected by drugs/ drink

Over and done with Its all over and done with Finished

Over the moon Im over the moon Very Happy

Paint the town red Go out and get drunk



Pale as a ghost

Im/ he/ she is/ was pale as a ghost

Someone looked unwell or, depending on context

Pass gas She passed gas Flatulence

Pass water Urinate (old fashioned)

Pass wind Pass flatulence

Passed away She passed away Died

Pee Urine

Percy Penis

Periods Ive got my periods Menstruation/ menstruating. Very common in all ages.

Pew Pull up a pew Sit down

PFO Pissed and fell over Drunk

Pins and needles

Ive got pins and needles in my finger!

Tingling/numbness in the limbs. Used by absolutely everybody.

Piss Urine or alcohol (depending on context)

Piss off To leave/ go away (vulgar; commonly used in irritation)

Pissed He was pissed! Drunk (vulgar)

Pissed I was so pissed! Angry (younger people) (vulgar)



Plastered I was plastered Drunk

Pokies She spends all day in the pokies. Gambling machines/ place where people use gambling machines (short for poker machines)

Poo Faeces

Pop I popped! Pass flatulence (esp with children)

Pop off I popped off! Pass flatulence (esp with young children)

Porker Hes a porker. Overweight. Insulting when directed at someone.

Porky Shes porky. Overweight. Insulting when directed at someone.

Powder my nose

If youll excuse me, I just need to powder my nose. Urinate (old fashioned)

Preggers I dont want to get preggers Pregnant

Prezzie Thanks for the prezzie! Present

Pub Im going down the pub. Hotel (everyone)

Puke Oh yuk, she puked! Vomit

Pull your finger out

Well, you just need to pull your finger out. Work hard

Quack Doctor

Rabbits They breed like rabbits Have many children. Often used in a derogatory sense, as in Australia the rabbit is a pest.



Rags Got your rags On my rags Got my rags

Menstruating/ menstruation. Considered vulgar by some, but is very common among lots of ages in rural areas.

Rapt Im rapt Shes rapt

Very happy, very impressed. Mainly used by younger people but can be used by people up to the age of 55.

Raw prawn Dont come the raw prawn with me!

Innocence. It means that you shouldnt lie to the person (old fashioned) Used more in rural areas

Red flag The red flags flying Menstruation (older)

Red herring Misled

Riff-raff rough people

Rocket scientist Shes not a rocket scientist Lacking in intellect/ a bit stupid

Rollies Have you got any rollies? Roll-your-own cigarettes

Rooted Im rooted Tiredness

Rooted He rooted her He had sex with her

Rooted I was rooted Tiredness or having had sex, depending on other context.

Rug rats Children

Run down Ive been feeling run down Unwell and tired

Runs Ive got the runs Diarrhoea

Sandwich short of a picnic

Hes a sandwich short of a picnic. Lacking in intellect/ a bit stupid



Scatter-brained

Gee, youre a bit scatter-brained today. Lacking in intellect/ a bit stupid

Scone On me scone Head.

Screamed the place down

She screamed the place down Got very angry and yelled a lot. Usually used in the third person.

Screw loose Shes got a screw loose Mentally unwell/ unstable. Used in the third person

Seedy Im feeling seedy Unwell

Seedy Im feeling seedy Hungover, depending on the context.

Shag on a rock I felt like a shag on a rock Alien or out of place (old fashioned)

Sheila Shes not a bad sheila. Women/ females a very Australian term. Mostly rural.

Shit I feel like shit It was shit This is shit

A general descriptor meaning bad (vulgar)

Shithouse I feel shithouse It was shithouse That is shithouse

Generally means bad; in terms of health it means unwell. (vulgar)

Shits It gives me the shits He gives me the shits Expression of annoyance or irritation. Vulgar

Shits Ive got the shits Diarrhoea

Shoot through She just shot through To leave

Shrink Psychiatrist

Sick as a dog I am sick as a dog Very unwell



Sickie Take a sickie Chuck a sickie Didnt go to work because of illness or pretended illness (most common is the latter)

Six foot under Shes six foot under Dead

Skunk Drunk as a skunk Drunk (old fashioned)

Slingshot Bra (older people)

Smashed She was smashed Affected by alcohol or drugs

Smoke-O I noticed it on smoke-o. Break, like morning tea

Snag Do you want a snag? Sausage

Snag short of a barbie Lacking in intellect/ a bit stupid

Snooze Im going to have a snooze Sleep

Snuffed it He snuffed it Died

Sore thumb She stuck out like a sore thumb Alien or out of place

So-so Im so-so Feeling alright

South Its all gone south Its all south from here Things are going badly and will probably get worse (old fashioned)

Spaced out Shes spaced out Intellectual disability OR affected by drugs, depending on context

Spend a penny I need to go spend a penny. Urine/ go to the toilet (old fashioned, rural)



Spew Im gonna spew I spewed Vomit.

Spewing She was spewing Angry. Used by younger people.

Spewing Im spewing about it! Angry, or jealous, depending on context. Used by younger people.

Splitting head I have a splitting head Headache

Sprog There was sprog all over the floor! Semen

Spun me out It totally spun me out Amazed (younger)

Spun out I was completely spun out Affected by drugs

Squiz Have a squiz Look

Squizzum Dyer wanna have a squizzum? Look (old fashioned)

Stage Just a stage hes going through Adolescence

Stiff as a board Im as stiff as a board Have stiff or aching muscles.

Stoked Im stoked! Very happy or very impressed. Younger persons expression.

Stoned Im stoned Affected by drugs; most commonly used to refer to marijuana

Stuffed Im stuffed Tiredness

Stuffed myself

I totally stuffed myself Im stuffed Overeat



Stuffed up She stuffed up her knee Injured

Tacker Little tacker Children/ young children

Tailors I dont smoke tailors Ready-made cigarettes

Tard Dont be a tard! Mum, is he a tard? Person with severe physical or intellectual disability. Insulting.

Tea Do you wanna come over for tea? Dinner, evening meal

Technicolour yawn Vomit (older)

Thongs I was wearing thongs. Cheap rubber backless sandals

Throw up Im gonna throw up. Vomit

Ticker The old ticker Heart. Used more often by older people.

Tickets Shes got tickets on herself Hes got tickets

Overconfident/ arrogant Used in the third person Can be used as an insult.

Tight She was pretty tight Drunk (old fashioned)

Tinnie I had about six tinnies. Can of beer

Tip-top Im in tip-top shape Good/ fit/ well

Tits My tits feel weird. Breasts

Toot (sound like book) Just goin to the toot! Toilet



Top of the world Im on top of the world Very happy

Trolley Off his trolley Drunk (old fashioned)

Trolley Off his trolley Mentally unwell

Trots Ive got the trots Diarrhoea (older people)

Trouble down there

Ive had a bit of trouble down there. Problem with genitals

Tubby Oi! Tubby! Im a bit tubby. Overweight. Insult when directed at someone.

Tucker I think the tucker was bad. Food

Tuckered out

Im all tuckered out I was tuckered out Tiredness (old fashioned or to children)

Tummy My tummys sore. Stomach

Turd He did a turd. Faeces (by children/ younger people)

Two bob short Hes two bob short Lacking in intellect/ a bit stupid (old fashioned)

Under the carpet Sweep it under the carpet Deliberately forget about things. (old fashioned)

Under the table Its all under the table Deliberately forget about things. (old fashioned).

Under the table It was done under the table Not in accordance with the rules

Under the weather

Im under the weather I feel a bit under the weather Unwell



Underdaks My underdaks feel too tight. Underpants

Undies My undies feel too tight. Underpants

Unreal Thats unreal! Oh, unreal! I had an unreal time

Excellent, very good

Up him/her-self

Hes up himself Shes up himself

Overconfident/ arrogant. Used in the third person. Can be used as an insult.

Up shit creek [without a paddle]

We were really up shit creek He was up shit creek without a paddle

In a difficult situation (vulgar)

Up the creek Now were up the creek! In a difficult situation

Up the duff Shes up the duff again Pregnant (younger, low socioeconomic)

Up the spout Shes up the spout Pregnant

Vamoose Lets vamoose! To leave

Vegetable Poor kids a vegetable now. Person with severe physical or intellectual disability. Insulting.

Veggie Mum, hes a vegie! Person with severe physical or intellectual disability. Insulting.

Visitor Ive got the visitor Menstruation (older)

Wag I wagged I wagged it Miss school illegally

Wally Youre a wally! Silly

Wasted She was wasted I was wasted Affected by drugs and/or alcohol (younger)



Waterhole Heading down to the waterhole after work. Hotel (older)

Watering hole

Heading down to the watering hole after work. Hotel (older)

Waterworks Seems to be a problem with the waterworks. Urine/ urination (older people)

Wee I need to wee all the time. Urine

Wee wee Urine (esp used with children)

Whacked He was whacked Affected by drugs

Whinge She keeps whingeing about her sore finger. To complain

White balls on a black dog

He stuck out like white balls on a black dog

Alien or out of place (vulgar) (rural)

Wicked Thats wicked! Oh, wicked! I had a wicked time

Excellent, very good

Wild goose chase Shes gone on a wild goose chase Misled

Wired to the ground Completely wired to the ground. Affected by drugs, specifically marijuana

With child Shes with child Pregnant (old fashioned)

Wobbly He chucked a wobbly Got angry. Used by/ to younger people.

Wog

Ive got a wog Ive had a wog Twenty-four hour wog I caught a wog

Unidentified minor illness, like flu Illness that lasted a day Caught a minor illness

Wonky I feel wonky Unwell, dizzy



Wonky Thats wonky Crooked

Woozy I feel woozy Unwell, dizzy, lightheaded

Work like a dog Work hard

Wrong end of the stick

No, youve got the wrong end of the stick Misled, misunderstood

Yobbo rough people

Other resources and lists of words you mind find useful include:

Hunt, Ken. 1993. The Xenophobes Guide to the Aussie. Ravette Books: Sussex.

Lambast, J (ed). 2000. Macquarie Book of Slang; Australian Slang in the Noughties. Macquarie

University Press: Sydney.

Australian slang at www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html

Slang Handbook 09

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Transcript of Slang Handbook 09