Special Sub-Topic: Raw Prawns and Dead Horse Authored by: Sallyo Sub-topic of: Australian Lingo

If an Aussie tells you "Don't come the raw prawn!" what does he mean?

Don't be silly. Don't come the raw prawn is a colourful expression that means "don't be such an idiot". I have no idea why!

"Ya want some dead horse?" What is this Aussie offering you?

Tomato sauce. Dead horse is tomato sauce, by rhyming slang. You eat it on pies or sausages.

An Aussie is asking you if you mean what you say. How does he phrase the question?

Fair dinkum?. "Fair dinkum?" means "Is that fair dinkum?" or "Is that really so?" A dingo is a wild dog. "That's the dinkum oil," means "that's the truth."

An Aussie asks you a question. "You got the avvagoodweegend?" What's he on about?

Do you have fly repellent?. He's actually asking for fly repellent... originally "Aerogard". This used to be advertised with the slogan; "Have a good weekend! Remember the Aerogard". This was slurred (deliberately) into "avvagoodweegend".

An Aussie is telling you a story about someone who is really cross. What does he term them?

Any of these. A mallee bull is a bull that has been roaming about in the mallee country. A mallee is a type of very tough tree.

Which of the following is NOT a famous Aussie pair?

Randy and Bud. Kath and Kim are a suburban mother and daughter from the television sit com - "Kath and Kim". Popular "Kath and Kim" quotes include ' "I'm gropeable!" "Look at moiiii" and "That's nice, that's different..." Mike and Mal are the Leyland brothers, who hosted TV series and produced books and adventures. Quote- "Ask the Leyland Brothers!" Dad and Dave were invented by Steele Rudd for his "Snake Gully" yarns, including "On Our Selection". Randy and Bud are NOT typical Aussie names.

If an Aussie says he is "flat out like a lizard drinking", what does he mean?

He's busy. He's very busy... if an Aussie is "going flat out" it means he's in a hurry, but if he's just "flat out", it means busy. The lizard drinking lies very close to the ground, so supposedly looks as if he's running very fast.

An Aussie asks if you want to wash up. What does she mean?

She's asking if you want to wash the dishes.. To wash up in Australia means to clean dishes or utensils. To "have a wash" is to wash your hands and face. To "do the washing" is to wash clothes. To be "washed up" is to be bankrupt or a has-been.

What is "a bit of flake" in Aussie-speak?

A fillet of shark. Flake and chips is quite a common offering in milk bars. Flounder and chips is another possibility.

An Aussie expression is "Game as Ned Kelly", meaning "brave". Ned Kelly is the most famous Australian bushranger, but in which country was he born?

Australia. Edward "Ned" Kelly's parents John and Ellen were both born in Ireland, but Ned and his two brothers and one sister were all born in Victoria. Ned was born in 1855, and died in 1880.