Australia Proverbs (50)

A fair go

“A fair go for all.”

Everyone deserves an equal opportunity and to be treated justly, regardless of background.

She'll be right, mate

“She'll be right, mate.”

Reassurance that things will work out fine and there is no need to worry.

Fair dinkum

“Fair dinkum.”

Something is genuine, honest and true — the real thing.

Buckley's chance

“He hasn't got Buckley's chance.”

There is little or no chance of something happening or succeeding.

Flat out like a lizard drinking

“Flat out like a lizard drinking.”

Extremely busy or working as fast as one possibly can.

Give it a burl

“Give it a burl.”

Have a go and try something, even if success is uncertain.

No worries

“No worries.”

It is fine, no problem, and nothing to be concerned about.

Don't come the raw prawn

“Don't come the raw prawn with me.”

Don't try to deceive me or take me for a fool.

Dry as a dead dingo's donga

“Dry as a dead dingo's donga.”

Extremely dry or, of a person, very thirsty.

Bring a plate

“Bring a plate.”

When invited to a gathering, bring a dish of food to share with everyone.

Mad as a cut snake

“He went mad as a cut snake when he found out.”

Extremely angry, agitated, or behaving erratically.

Up a gum tree

“Without the car keys, we're up a gum tree.”

In a difficult or awkward situation with no easy way out.

Not the full quid

“Ignore him, he's not the full quid.”

Someone regarded as not particularly sharp or sensible.

She's apples

“Don't worry about the mess, she's apples.”

Everything is fine and under control.

Built like a brick dunny

“The prop forward is built like a brick dunny.”

Describes someone with a solid, sturdy, powerful build.

It's cactus

“The old washing machine finally died — it's cactus.”

Something is broken, ruined, or beyond repair.

Do your block

“Dad did his block when he saw the dented car.”

To lose your temper suddenly and become very angry.

Don't be a drongo

“Don't be a drongo, read the instructions first.”

A gentle scolding not to act foolishly or carelessly.

Full as a goog

“After Christmas lunch I was full as a goog.”

Extremely full after eating a large meal.

Get a wriggle on

“Get a wriggle on, we're going to be late.”

Hurry up and move faster.

Hard yakka

“Clearing that paddock by hand was hard yakka.”

Tough, demanding physical labour.

Have a Captain Cook

“Have a Captain Cook at this before you buy it.”

Take a quick look at something (rhyming slang for "look").

Home and hosed

“With the contract signed, the deal is home and hosed.”

Something is safely and successfully completed.

Spewing

“I missed the last train — I'm absolutely spewing.”

Extremely upset, angry, or disappointed about something.

Knock off

“It's five o'clock, let's knock off for the day.”

To stop work and finish for the day.

Mate's rates

“The mechanic fixed it for mate's rates.”

A discounted price given as a favour to a friend.

Ridgy-didge

“This antique clock is the ridgy-didge article.”

Genuine, authentic, and the real thing.

She's a goer

“The new business took off fast — she's a goer.”

Something is going well and shows strong promise.

Spit the dummy

“He spat the dummy when the umpire made the call.”

To lose one's temper and throw a tantrum.

Stone the crows

“Stone the crows, I can't believe we won!”

An exclamation of surprise or astonishment.

Strewth

“Strewth, that storm came out of nowhere!”

An exclamation expressing surprise, shock, or disbelief.

Sweet as

“No problem, we can meet Tuesday — sweet as.”

Excellent, fine, or entirely agreeable.

Tall poppy syndrome

“Success brings tall poppy syndrome — people love cutting you down.”

The tendency to criticise or resent people who become successful or prominent.

The whole box and dice

“We ordered the whole box and dice for the party.”

Everything included, the complete set with nothing left out.

Two-bob watch

“He's about as reliable as a two-bob watch.”

Describes someone or something unpredictable and unreliable.

Wouldn't be dead for quids

“Sitting on this beach, I wouldn't be dead for quids.”

Expresses being extremely happy and content with one's life.

You beauty!

“You beauty! We finally got the loan approved.”

An exclamation of delight and excitement at good news.

Dob in

“In the schoolyard, you never dob in a mate.”

To inform on or report someone, generally frowned upon among friends.

Feeling crook

“I'm feeling a bit crook today, must be the flu.”

Feeling unwell or sick.

Good on ya

“You finished the marathon — good on ya!”

An expression of praise and approval for someone's effort or achievement.

Mad as a meat axe

“That old bull is mad as a meat axe.”

Completely crazy, unpredictable, or eccentric.

Beyond the black stump

“The old station is out beyond the black stump.”

In a very remote or far-off part of the outback.

Pull your head in

“Pull your head in, mate, that's none of your business.”

A blunt instruction to mind one's own business or stop misbehaving.

Too right

“Is it hot out there? Too right it is.”

An emphatic expression of strong agreement.

True blue

“He's a true blue Aussie through and through.”

Genuinely loyal and authentically representative of Australian character.

Under the pump

“The whole kitchen was under the pump during the dinner rush.”

Under a great deal of pressure or stress.

You little ripper!

“You little ripper, we won the raffle!”

An enthusiastic exclamation of delight at good fortune.

Chuck a U-ey

“Missed the turn — chuck a U-ey at the lights.”

To make a U-turn while driving.

Flat chat

“The whole team was going flat chat to meet the deadline.”

Working or moving at full speed and maximum effort.

Rattle your dags

“Rattle your dags, the bus leaves in five minutes.”

Hurry up and get moving without delay.