Glossary of Australian Idioms and Sayings
Hey there, lovely readers!
There are Australian terms and sayings used in my books that I've been told may not be so easy to understand. Oops! Instead of adding to page count with lists and such, my BFF suggested I list them on my webpage. Great idea!
I do understand there's a huge cultural difference even within the English language, so please feel free to email me with anything you didn't understand that's not on this list and I'll be happy to explain it, and maybe even add it to the collection! I do enjoy comparing different things between AU to US terms.
Here are some of them from Entrusted.
*Bailed him/her/them up = cornered, stopped
*Cop it sweet = accept
*Eyeing her off = checking her out, perving on
*Getting tizzied up = getting dressed up/prettied up
*Going to town on = getting really involved in/giving it everything you've got
*Having her/him on (also 'pulling her leg', 'having a lend of') = joking/kidding
*Saved a packet = saved a large amount of money
*Suss = suspicious
*Wanking = masturbation (not to be confused with 'wanker' which means dickhead!)
*Worked a treat = worked really well
From Encumbered
*ute, short for utility = single or double cab vehicle with a tray, tub, or stepside on the back for transporting stuff. Also known as a pickup truck
*goes/went like the clappers = goes really, really fast!
*wedgie = now, not only does this mean to pull someone's underwear up their buttcrack, it's also a shortening for our wonderful wedge-tailed eagles. So when you get to the wedgie bit, we're not talking undies!
*effy = female name? Maybe. But in this case, Aussie for Ford's F-series of vehicles
*calling stumps = last call for drinks before a venue closes
*XC = Ford XC GXL is Nate's car in the book
*hoo-ha = another term for commotion, or in this case, jargon
*restos = short for restorations
*servo = service station/gas station
*SummerNats = Australia's premier car lovers get-together! Held every year in January, in Canberra.
*Easternats = car event held every Easter in Victoria's southern suburbs. Cancelled in after the 2012 event
*9" diff = the diff (differential) is what makes the wheels at the back of the car turn. They're really freakin' heavy. You'll understand this when you get to that bit!
*sooking = sulking, crying, being a bit of a baby
*bubs = apparently this term for baby is all our own!
*Maccas = McDonald's
*giving someone the shits = irritating them, annoying them
*put the boots in = accelerate really fast
*crying jag = uncontrollable weeping/crying
*canned = cancelled
Any you find in Enslaved...
*At loggerheads with = in conflict with someone, at an impasse
*fat = erection (yes, we have some good ones!)
Southern Dreams
*bevvy = beverage/drink
*moggy = domestic cat, often mixed breed
Here are some day-to-day ones I've encountered along the way chatting with American friends.
Aussie US
Undies = Panties
Ute = Pick up truck
Scone = Biscuit
Biscuit = Cookie
Conserve = Jam
Jam = Jelly
Jelly = Jell-O
Knackered = Stuffed/exhausted/tired
Jocks = Mens underwear/briefs
Taking the piss/taking the piss outta me = making fun of
Thongs = Flip flops (not to be confused with 'thong', which is barely-there underwear!)
Arse = Ass
Ass = Donkey
There are Australian terms and sayings used in my books that I've been told may not be so easy to understand. Oops! Instead of adding to page count with lists and such, my BFF suggested I list them on my webpage. Great idea!
I do understand there's a huge cultural difference even within the English language, so please feel free to email me with anything you didn't understand that's not on this list and I'll be happy to explain it, and maybe even add it to the collection! I do enjoy comparing different things between AU to US terms.
Here are some of them from Entrusted.
*Bailed him/her/them up = cornered, stopped
*Cop it sweet = accept
*Eyeing her off = checking her out, perving on
*Getting tizzied up = getting dressed up/prettied up
*Going to town on = getting really involved in/giving it everything you've got
*Having her/him on (also 'pulling her leg', 'having a lend of') = joking/kidding
*Saved a packet = saved a large amount of money
*Suss = suspicious
*Wanking = masturbation (not to be confused with 'wanker' which means dickhead!)
*Worked a treat = worked really well
From Encumbered
*ute, short for utility = single or double cab vehicle with a tray, tub, or stepside on the back for transporting stuff. Also known as a pickup truck
*goes/went like the clappers = goes really, really fast!
*wedgie = now, not only does this mean to pull someone's underwear up their buttcrack, it's also a shortening for our wonderful wedge-tailed eagles. So when you get to the wedgie bit, we're not talking undies!
*effy = female name? Maybe. But in this case, Aussie for Ford's F-series of vehicles
*calling stumps = last call for drinks before a venue closes
*XC = Ford XC GXL is Nate's car in the book
*hoo-ha = another term for commotion, or in this case, jargon
*restos = short for restorations
*servo = service station/gas station
*SummerNats = Australia's premier car lovers get-together! Held every year in January, in Canberra.
*Easternats = car event held every Easter in Victoria's southern suburbs. Cancelled in after the 2012 event
*9" diff = the diff (differential) is what makes the wheels at the back of the car turn. They're really freakin' heavy. You'll understand this when you get to that bit!
*sooking = sulking, crying, being a bit of a baby
*bubs = apparently this term for baby is all our own!
*Maccas = McDonald's
*giving someone the shits = irritating them, annoying them
*put the boots in = accelerate really fast
*crying jag = uncontrollable weeping/crying
*canned = cancelled
Any you find in Enslaved...
*At loggerheads with = in conflict with someone, at an impasse
*fat = erection (yes, we have some good ones!)
Southern Dreams
*bevvy = beverage/drink
*moggy = domestic cat, often mixed breed
Here are some day-to-day ones I've encountered along the way chatting with American friends.
Aussie US
Undies = Panties
Ute = Pick up truck
Scone = Biscuit
Biscuit = Cookie
Conserve = Jam
Jam = Jelly
Jelly = Jell-O
Knackered = Stuffed/exhausted/tired
Jocks = Mens underwear/briefs
Taking the piss/taking the piss outta me = making fun of
Thongs = Flip flops (not to be confused with 'thong', which is barely-there underwear!)
Arse = Ass
Ass = Donkey