Special Sub-Topic: Colourful Aussie Lingo! Click Here To Play: Colourful Aussie Lingo!

What, in the Australian vernacular, is a Black Rat?

A can of rum and cola. Specifically in Queensland, a Black Rat is a can of Bundy (Bundaberg Rum) and cola!

What's a Can of Green?

VB. A can of Victoria Bitter beer, aka VB! "Green can thanks mate!" An Aussie bloke may say he's getting a few greens in his diet if he's downing a few cold cans of VB!

Specifically in and around Perth, what are Goldsborough Morts?

Shorts. Named after a wool storage company in Fremantle near Perth, Western Australia. "I'm gonna break out the goldsboroughs (the morts) now summer is here!"

What, coloquially speaking (especially in Tasmania) is a Brown Trout?

Faeces. Specifically it refers to untreated faecal matter released into waterways! In other localities, it can be called a Blind Mullet or a Blind Trout, a Bondi Cigar or a Chocolate Cigar, a Bondi Shark, a King River Prawn and a Werribee Trout!

What, specifically in the Sydney area, was known as a Red Rattler?

A train. Ah, the Red Rattler - I caught these trains to and from school for nearly a decade! They were the old suburban trains used in Sydney which were draughty, noisy, uncomfortable and dangerous because the doors were easily opened! We kids used to hang out the doors when the train was at speed - what a thrill, and you could jump on or off the train while it was moving! They had dual windows which rattled and the carriages were red, hence the name!

What, in the Aussie vernacular, is a Grey Nurse?

A one hundred dollar bill. A Rock Lobster is a twenty dollar bill and a Blue Swimmer is a ten dollar bill! A Grey Nurse was also the nickname for traffic wardens in and around Sydney!

Particularly in South Australia, what was known as a Blue Bird?

A diesel train. Diesel trains used mostly on country rail lines, named because they were painted blue and had the name of a native bird on them. From Adelaide, the Blue bird travelled to Mount Gambier.

What, particularly in Queensland, is a Grey Nomad?

An elderly caravaner. Elderly caravan travellers in the north of Queensland, particularly, who travel there during the winter months. "There's another grey nomad!"

What, in Auspeak, is a Red Handbag?

A cask of red wine. A cask of red wine that is bought particularly to take along to a party. "I'll stop at the bottlo's and grab a red handbag on the way!"

What's a Pink Lamington?

A cake. A Pink Lamington is a lamington-style cake! Plain sponge cake is dipped in pink jelly, filled with fresh cream then covered with dessicated coconut. It is also known as a Jelly Cake.

What, in slang, is a Yellow Sticker?

Unroadworthy notice. A notice, in the form of a yellow sticker, which is attached to the windscreen of a vehicle by the Police that states the vehicle must be repaired. Also known as a Canary in Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.

What colour was traditionally associated with a summons issued for a traffic offence?

Blue. A Bluey was a summons issued for a traffic or parking offence in New South Wales, South Australia and in Tasmania, the actual colour of the paper was blue! Bluey also refers to a Blue Bottle (a seaside stinger in New South Wales); your mate could be Bluey, and Blue Cattle Dogs are often referred to as Bluey. In Victoria and Western Australia a warm woollen jacket was known as a Bluey or a Bushman's Bluey! Also, historically, a Bluey was a Blanket Roll which contained a travellers possessions and, if you're a red-head, you'd be Bluey!

What's an Orange Roughy?

A fish. The common name for a species of Sea Perch caught by fishermen in the southern seas of Australia, often seen in supermarkets and fishmarkets either filleted or whole - tastes great!

What, particularly in the Sydney area, is a Yellow Monday?

A cicada. A yellow coloured Cicada from the Sydney area. Other names for Cicadas, there are over two hundred species in Australia, include Black Prince, Brown Baker, Brown Bomber, Green Baron and Greengrocer! I love Cicadas and children are still fascinated by the skins of the nymphs, or the 'shells' that can be found in the summer, left behind by the mature Cicadas; and the sound they make, I always thought it was their wings but it is actually a muscle the males have on their abdomen that causes the clicking sound!

What is, coloquially speaking, Lemon Spread?

Sweet sandwich spread. Lemon Spread is a sweet spread made from lemons, sugar and egg yolks and is sometimes called Lemon Butter, Lemon Cheese and Lemon Curd. "Would you like some lemon spread on your toast?" It's actually great used as a filling in cakes too!

What, colloquially speaking, is a White Maggot?

An Australian Football League umpire. Also just a White, i.e., the Man in White! In 2002 the call has gone out for the Umpires to be attired in yellow to impede players colliding with same, for which they, the players, attract a penalty!

What does the coloquial term, to 'Get Off At Redfern' infer?

To practice a type of birth control. The phrase, to get off at Redfern literally means, in strine, to practise coitus interruptus. It refers to Redfern Station, the railway station immediately before Central Railway Station in Sydney!

What's a Greenback, in Auspeak?

An unbroken wave. In surfers language, a Greenback is an unbroken wave and the Green Room is the tube of a breaking wave!

What colour describes a fight, in the Australian vernacular?

Blue. A Blue is a fight, a disagreement, an argument, a row or a dispute!

If you're referred to as a Gold Head, what would it mean?

You've got a good credit rating. Specifically relevant to Car Salesman, the term Gold Head means someone who owns their own home and has a good credit rating.