Special Sub-Topic: Australianisms Click Here To Play: Australianisms

"I haven't got a zack to my name." In pre-decimal currency, how much was a "zack"?

sixpence. The term "zack" was popular in the 40s and 50s. Other money terms were a "2 bob" -2 shillings, a "trey bit" - threepence and a "deener" - a shilling.

If an Australian called you a "bit of a drongo", what would he be implying you were?

a fool or idiot. A drongo is a bird of the crow family which has its habitat in south-east Asia and Africa.

If an Australian girl was told, "It's snowing down south," what would it mean?

That her petticoat was showing below her dress hem. Women wore petticoats (usually white), or at least half-slips under their dresses. If the slip dropped below the level of the hemline, "it was snowing down south."

If your actions are incredibly silly, an Australian might tell you that you are as "mad as a cut (what)"?

Snake. A cut snake performs some incredible gyrations which appear quite ridiculous. hence "as mad as a cut snake".

If you lived a long way away, you lived "beyond the (what)"?

Black stump. There is supposed to be a black stump past the town of Bourke in far west New South Wales.

If a person is told,"You wouldn't shout if a shark bit you," what did he/she mean?

You're tight-fisted/miserly. The term "shout' in this case applies to buying something for someone; for example, if there are two or three people drinking together, they are in a shout. They take turns in paying for the round of drinks. If someone wouldn't shout if a shark bit him, he is loath to pay his way in the "shout".

If an Australian asks you, "What do you do for a crust?" What does he mean?

What is your occupation?. This expression became common during the depression years when jobs were scarce and food even scarcer.

What did being "a sandwich short of a picnic" imply?

A bit mad/insane. Many such terms were used to imply a lack of sanity. "His lift doesn't go all the way to the top floor" and "He's missing a few marbles" were just two more.

During the depression when food was scarce, many people lived on "underground mutton". What was "underground mutton"?

Rabbit. During the depression, Australia was infested with rabbits. Catching rabbits became as much a job as a pastime.

Now for a real corker! If your best mate "whiteants" you, what has he done?

Stolen your girlfriend. The whiteant is a termite. They are so technically clever, that they can eat into a piece of painted timber and leave the paint in the exact shape of the timber,so that you are unaware the wood has been eaten. As with your best mate sneaking under your guard and stealing your girl and you know nothing about it till they get married.