Special Sub-Topic: Aussie To English Translation Click Here To Play: Aussie To English Translation

'I've just been robbed by a one armed bandit!' What's this Aussie talking about?

He just lost on the poker machines. The 'one armed bandit' refers to the old style poker machines with the pull arm on the side. If an Aussie losses money, he will refer to it as being 'robbed' although no theft has taken place.

'That bloke's a cowboy boot short of a line dance.' What's this Aussie suggesting?

'That fellow is not all there'. There's a few sayings like this in Australia. 'A stubbie short of a six pack' or 'a few cards short of a full deck', all meaning he's not the 'full quid' (a little mentally challenged).

'If he was any more laid back he'd be fly blown.' What would this Aussie be saying?

'He's very relaxed'. If he was any more relaxed he would be dead!

'I'm not going to Pete's, he lives out woop woop.' Where does Peter live?

Away from civilization. 'Woop woop' refers to a destination that's a long way away. Another similar expression is 'beyond the black stump.'

'Where's the Seppo? Is he still catching Zeds?' What would this Aussie be asking?

'Is the American still sleeping?'. 'Seppo' came from WW2 when the American Pacific soldiers were stationed in Australia. It derives from rhyming slang. 'Seppo' being short for 'Septic Tank' which rhymes with 'Yank'. Catching a few ZZZ's comes from an illustration of someone sleeping. A few Z's rising from their mouth to indicate sleep.

If you were told in Australia, 'sorry ocker, the fokkers chocker,' what would you have been told?

'The aeroplane is full'. 'sorry mate, the Fokker Friendship (a type of aeroplane) is full'.

If you were asked by an Aussie to 'hang on a tick,' what would you have been asked to do?

'Wait for a short while'. 'Hang' will generally mean wait. 'Tick' is refering to the tick of a clock meaning a short moment'

If you were told to 'have a Bo Peep,' a 'Captain Cook,'or have a 'butchers,' what would you be asked to do?

Look at something. All these terms refer to having a look at something. To have a 'Captain Cook' at something is rhyming slang to have a 'look at something.' You can also 'have a gander' or a 'butchers' which is 'butchers hook' shortened and rhyming slang for look.

'I'm gonna grab the goat boat and the shark biscuit and take a squizz at the swell at Kirra'. What activity would this Aussie be heading off to do?

Surfing. A 'goat boat' is slang for a surf ski. The 'shark biscuit' is slang for a body board (boogie board) that's used for surfing. Having a 'squizz' means having a look and Kirra is a famous surfing beach on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Confused?

'I just had a blue with bluey, fair dinkum, I thought he was true blue, but he's madder than a cut snake!' What have you just overheard?

Someone has had a fight with a friend. There's a few 'blues' in the Aussie dictionary. Blue can mean a fight or anything red haired. A Red Heeler Cattle Dog is grey blue in colour and this is where the assocation comes from. 'True Blue' refers to an Aussie as being a 'genuine, fair dinkum aussie.' 'Mad as a cut snake' can mean both very angry or a little bit psychotic or both.

'So is it gonna be Mackers, a mixed bag, or do you reckon we lash out on a few bugs?' What would this Aussie be asking?

'What should we eat for lunch?'. McDonalds is affectionately known as 'Mackers' while a 'mixed bag' can be known as a sausage (you never quite know what you're eating). A bug is a type of shellfish that makes very fine eating. 'Lashing out' means going over the top. In this sentence it would mean 'should we spend a bit of money that we normally wouldn't and get something nice'

'Gee mate, you're flash as a rat with a gold tooth!' What back handed compliment have you just been paid?

'You look great'. Don't ask!

'Gidday curly, how's it going cobber?' What is curly likely to be?

A bald man. In the same way that red headed people are classed as 'Bluey,' bald men are known as 'curly.'

'That bloke wouldn't shout if a shark bit him'. What sort of person is this?

A reluctant spender. A shout is a turn of buying drinks at the bar. 'It's your shout mate' is 'it's your turn to buy the drinks.'

'We should get the frog untied, use our plates of meat and make tracks to Wazzas.' What is this aussie saying?

'Let's walk to Warren's place'. 'Getting the frog untied' derives from the rhyming slang 'To hit the frog and toad' meaning to 'hit the road' (and get moving). 'Plates of meat' is rhyming slang for 'feet.' All the Warren's of Australia are affectionately known as 'Wazza.'