...and now for your entertainment we have letters K & L:
Kangaroos in the top paddock: One of many Australian phrases indicating that someone is stark, raving mad. However, the person is a harmless madman. The person concerned cal also be 'a sandwich short of a picnic', 'not the full bottle', or 'a couple of pies short of a grand final'.
Kiwi Land: New Zealand: the land of both Kiwis (the people) and the kiwi (an indigenous flightless bird).
Lollies: Confectionary or sweets, particularly the boiled variety. Known as 'candy' in North America and 'sweets' in the UK.
Lucky Country, The: Australia. Although originally an ironic term coined by writer Donald Horne in the 1960s, the expressionnow implies that Australia is the land of good fortune.
Isn't this fun?? ...and now to the grand letters M & N:
Mad as a cut snake: Both crazy and angry. Any Australian snake which has been cut in half doesn't take kindly to its aggresor. 'Mad as a meat axe' is a simliar expression.
Mate: In Australia, 'mate' is what men (and a small proportion of women) call their friends, buddies or pals.
Mozzy: The plural of the word is 'mozzies;'--that is, mosquitoes, which are rumoured to be as big as pigs, with tusks as well. (I don't know about any of you but I am looking forward to a few bites from some mozzies after this long, snowy winter we've been having in Minnesnowta!)...he** I think everyone here are wishing for a mosquito bite about now!!
Never Never: Home of the Outback Aborigines, meaning the desert regions of Australia. A somewhat affectionate term for the country that is deemed to be 'beyond the Black Stump'. The term is also used to describe the hire-purchase or credit system.
...and now we're on to the letter O which is going to emphasize to the Tour Guide that I, indeed, am not incorrect on aone particular word that starts with the letter O so let's get to it!
Onya!: Similar to good on ya!, but more often shouted as a form of encouragement, especially at the footie and other sporting events.
O.S.: Overseas---essentially anywhere but Australia.
Outback, The: Australia's remote, sparsely populated and generally arid regions come under this collective term, which literally means 'out the back', or beyond civilisation. Similar to the bush, but it implies somewhere even more inhospitable.
Hello?? Tour Guide?? Yes, this is under the O in that handy, dandy book you sent me........
Oz: Australia!!
...and to wind this up we'll end with the letters P & Q:
Pokies: Poker machines, known elsewhere as 'fruit machines' and 'one armed bandits'.
Pom: An English person. The origin is uncertain, with explanations ranging from POM (Prisoner of His/Her Majesty---a convict) to an abbreviation of pomegranate, rhymn slang for 'immigrant'.
Postie: A postman or postwoman.
Prezzie: A gift or present, like you receive at Chrissie.
Qantas: Everyone knows this is Australia's national airline---founded in the Outback inthe 1920s---but most people are not aware that the name is the acronym for Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services. (Please note Tour Guide...I spelled Qantas correctly not Quantas!!!)
Well...we're about two thirds through the alphabet here and I'll finish up on Thursday. Yes, you read right...Thursday as tomorrow I have a special post to put out there.
Until then...wherever you are...have a great day!!
you are going to be in serious trouble if I see the term OZ again, I told you I am going to find this dude and remove him permanently from Australian civilisation!
ReplyDeletePS: at least you spelt Qantas right this time :)