Australian Slang O - Z

Ochre

a reddish-yellow earth used in paints

outback

the Australian countryside far away from cities, where few people live

Paddock

a fenced area of land covered with grass, usually intended for livestock (paddocks can be huge in Australia)

pal

a mate, a friend

pastoralist

a large-scale grazier

pebbles

small smooth stones found on the beach or on the bottom of a river

porcupine grass

a native spiky grass

pot hole

a hole in the surface of a road that makes driving difficult or dangerous

prawn

a shrimp

pub

a hotel; a place for buying and drinking alcohol

quandong tree

small fruit bearing tree from the Mallee scrub. The fruit has a bitter sweet taste

Ringer

the fastest sheerer in the shed

river red gum

an eucalypt characterized by gum-like bark, found growing adjacent to river, sandy creek beds and waterholes

road train

a truck with two or three trailers; semi-trailer-trailer-trailer; multi-trailered semi truck

roadhouse

a place where you can get fuel, food and sometimes accommodation

roo bar

bull bar

rugged

land that is rugged is rough and uneven

saltbush / bluebush

low-growing shrub of numerous species common throughout the southern and central semi-arid and arid regions of the outback

sandgroper

person born in Western Australia

sandy ridge

a line of sand that rises above a surface, smaller than a sand dune

scrub

stunted (not grown properly) trees and bushes in a dry area

sealed road

tarred road; bitumen road

sheila

a young woman

shout

buy a round of drinks (It's my shout)

sleeper

a heavy piece of wood or concrete supporting a railway track

smoko

to 'knock off for a smoko' is to have a break for a coffee, tea or cigarette.

spinifex

a native spiky grass common in sand dune country

squatter

pioneer farmer who occupied land as a tenant of the government or crown

station

large sheep or cattle farm

stock route

a route where cattle was driven

stockman

a man whose job it is to look after farm animals

stony plain

flat to undulating plain covered with stones or gibbers, often found in jump-up country or adjacent to ranges

strine

Australian English, or the way that Australians pronounce English words

stubby

375-ml bottle of beer

surfaced road

tarred road

swag

canvas-covered bedroll used in the outback; also a large amount

swagman

a familiar sight on Australian outback tracks in the late 19th century (perhaps up to the end of the depression). One who carries a swag (i.e. all his worldly possessions) on his shoulder, going from town to town, farm to farm, seeking food and shelter in exchange for work.

Tea

evening meal

the big smoke

contemptuous term for city, that awful place full of slickers

thongs

sandals made from rubber, an ocker's idea if formal footwear

tinny

375-ml can of beer; also a small, aluminum fishing dinghy

trucky

truck driver

true blue

fair dinkum; s.th. that is real Australian

tucker

food, bush tucker refers to traditional Aboriginal wild foods

two-up

traditional head/tails gambling game

Uluru

formerly Ayers Rock - the spiritual centre of Australia, possessor of mythic powers.

ute

utility; pick up truck; the working horse in the Outback

Vegemite

a yeast extract that may only be palatable to fair dinkum Aussies. Australians are weaned onto it straight off the breast. Backpackers ensure they have a jar of it on their overseas trips. Despite its iconic status in the culinary tastes of Australians, it was carelessly sold off ('like sponge cake') to the multi-national Kraft.

walkabout

a walk in the outback by Aborigines that lasts for an indefinite amount of time;

it's gone walkabout = it's lost, can't be found

waltzing matilda

famous song written by Andrew Barton Patterson

washouts

heavy erosion caused by running water across a road or track

wattle

Australian tree with beautiful yellow flowers

whoop whoop

somewhere, a long way from civilisation

wildlife

animals and plants growing in natural conditions

willy-willy

whirlwind; dust storm

woomera

stick used by Aborigines for throwing spears

Yabbie

small freshwater crayfish; inland crustacean delicacy. Caught by putting rotting meat on a string and dragging it around the waterhole or river.