Slang Handbook 09

Talking about
health and illness

Australian slang handbook
2009 Edition
By Dr Anna Chur-Hansen and students
Copyright 1998 University of Adelaide Department of Psychiatry. Used with

permission.
This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may
be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the publisher. Inquiries
concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Publications Officer.
The 1998 version was contributed to in 2005 by Victoria Cheng, Alison Chew, Chen Kean Choy,
Sue Ann Loh, Kelvin Lye & Siew Lee Shu, and in 2006 by Vanessa Tee, Priya, Desmond Ong,
Chin Jong Khen and Chua Su Ling
This edition adapted with permission.
Adapted version published & printed by:
Adelaide to Outback GP Training Program
Lower Level, 183 Melbourne Street
NORTH ADELAIDE 5006
Document: A2O-ED-IG-RE-0004-02
Adapted by:
Editor:
Senior Education Research Officer

Publications Officer
Author: Dr Anna Chur-Hansen
Approved by: Medical Education Manager
Last updated: September 2009
Page 2 of 34
CONTENTS
What is colloquial English? ............................................................................................................................... 2
Why is it important for GPs to know slang?.................................................................................................. 3
What can I do if someone uses informal language that I dont understand? ........................................ 4
A strategy for use in the clinical situation....................................................................................................... 4
What strategies are there for learning this sort of language? ................................................................... 5
What are some common slang words that a patient might use? ............................................................. 6
Index of Australian slang .................................................................................................................................... 1
Page 3 of 34
WHAT IS COLLOQUIAL ENGLISH?

There are different styles of language that a person can use depending upon the situation they are
in. Sociolinguistics considers how language reflects not only the meaning of the words, but the
speakers relationship to the listener, and their age, gender, socio-economic background and so
on.
Elaborated versus restricted codes of language are important ways of identifying and thinking
about language use. That is, people who are well educated or well read might use longer, more
complex sentences and have a greater vocabulary at their disposal (elaborated code), as
compared to others, whose speech may be less varied (restricted code).
In Australia, most people use informal speech: slang, or colloquial English. Some people use it
more often than others, but most people use it, especially in informal situations, regardless of
whether their usual code is restricted or elaborated. Sociolinguistics shows us how some slang
belongs to certain age groups, or people with certain educational backgrounds, and so on.
Some Australian people use American slang, but certainly we have a great deal of slang and
informal speech that is unique to us and is not shared by other English speakers. The specific
form of English (with all of its slang included) used in Australia is referred to as Australian English.
Slang is shaped by the culture of the people, and its use is contextually dependent. Many things
that we say to each other have historical roots, or come from our environment, like sayings based
on references to the weather or animals or plants that are from here. Some slang is specific to a
particular state or to the country as opposed to the city, and so on. Informal speech makes it
difficult to learn a new language because it is often not written down anywhere; if it is written
down it is fairly meaningless if taken out of context.
Australian slang is often based on rude or vulgar words. However, the meaning may be quite the
opposite. To give an example, one man might say to another, you old bastard!. That would not
necessarily mean that the person was elderly, or had parents who were not married to each other.
If said with a smile or a slap on the back, it is a term of affection; if said in anger, it means that an
argument might be about to happen; if said with a sly grin it might mean that the person is
cunning or clever. Nonverbal communication used together with slang is often very important in
correctly interpreting what the slang words actually mean.
Page 2 of 34
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT
FOR GPs TO KNOW SLANG?
Doctors need to know a great deal of medical terminology that they use when communicating
effectively with the colleagues, and must be able to use the correct, educated, elaborated code
of English.
However, this way of speaking is not sufficient if it is the only way in which you know how to
speak. You need to be able to interact with Australian colleagues and reception staff, members of
the community, your teachers and mentors. If you speak very formally all the time, you may
discover that people dont warm to you. They may feel uncomfortable with your interaction. They
may also perceive that you dont understand what they are saying. Therefore, they might restrict
their language to a very basic, formal level in response to yours. This is not a good start in building
rapport between you and other people, and it is not good for the development of your language
skills because you wont get to hear everyday Australian English.
You also need to know slang because you have to talk to patients. You are expected to listen to
people, understand them, and be able to accommodate their language level. An important skill for
you as the doctor is the ability to engage this such language accommodation, to be able to
communicate with a patient so that they understand you; doing so will foster the relationship
between you.
A GP is expected not only to master the appropriate communication skills to be a doctor, such as
rapport, open-ended questions and so on, but also to have a level of English-language proficiency
that is adequate for their doctor-patient interactions. Your proficiency must encompass not only
technical jargon, but everyday, informal language as well. Patients will often use polite forms of
language with the doctor, but their vocabulary may sometimes be limited to slang. During times of
emotional distress, patients may revert to speech that they have learned earlier in life, or which
they commonly use in their everyday life. This will include slang.
Page 3 of 34
WHAT CAN I DO IF SOMEONE

USES INFORMAL LANGUAGE THAT
I DONT UNDERSTAND?
There are probably thousands of examples of slang words. No one could possibly be expected to
know them all. People may well say things that dont seem to make sense to you. The big mistake
here is to pretend that you know what they are talking about when you are not sure.
Below are two strategies you can use when you dont understand:
1.
Simply ask them what they mean. There is nothing at all wrong with doing this.
2.
Use your knowledge of communications skills to summarise what they have said as you
understand it. That way, if you are mistaken they can tell you so.
A strategy for use in the clinical situation.

1.
Ask the patient what they mean. Ensure that you use open ended questions, to facilitate
rapport and openness. For example, you might ask, Im not sure what you mean by that;
are you able to explain it for me? or, Im not familiar with that word/phrase, what does it
mean? Similarly, you could summarise what the patient has said as you have understood
it, so that they can tell you if you are mistaken.
2.
Write down the word in a notebook dedicated to the purpose.
3.
After the consult, or when you have a list of words, take your notebook with you to your
mentor, or someone who you trust, and ask them what it means.
4.
Ensure you find out who would use the word/phrase;

what circumstances the word/phrase is used in; what
the word/phrase means; to whom the word/phrase
might be used.
Page 4 of 34
WHAT STRATEGIES ARE THERE

FOR LEARNING THIS SORT OF
LANGUAGE?
You cannot learn a great deal about informal language from a book. The kind of approach to
language acquisition you need for informal or slang language is an active rather than a passive
one. Certainly you can look at the books for examples and for interest, and there are some books
that demonstrate informal Australian English very well, but real people and the spoken word is far
more valuable to you here.
So, what specifically can you do to gain some idea of our informal language?
1.
Talk to people. Talk to your friends and colleagues. This is not as easily done as said,
but you will discover that usually the effort in overcoming your fear or nerves will be
repaid in many ways. You might find out that there are some people who are quite happy
to share their knowledge of informal language with you.
2.
Participate actively in your community. If you have time, try to join a sporting club, or
a social club or organisation. Not only will it help you become part of your community, it is
a good way of finding out about how people speak in your immediate context. Other ways
you might find of doing this are by actively participating in activities that your childrens
school put together, or by going to the pub for a drink or a meal
3.
Notice what people say. Keep an exercise book of words that you hear people, in your
immediate context and region, or in the media, which you dont understand. Then ask
someone what the words mean and write the meanings down next to them. Be sure to
find out what the term means, who would be most likely to use it, under what
circumstances, and to whom.
Keep building on the list, and eventually you will have a good resource of informal
language specific to your region. We encourage you to share them with other IMGs by
forwarding your lists to Adelaide to Outback; we will update the lists in the rear of this
handbook, so that the resource continues to be valid and useful.
Page 5 of 34
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON

SLANG WORDS THAT A PATIENT
MIGHT USE?
There are many different figures of speech that a patient might use to refer to body functions,
parts of their anatomy, their state of health, what they have been doing, and so on. Some common
ones are listed on the following pages.
Remember, this is not an exhaustive list by any means. It is meant to serve as a reference for you.
Add colloquialisms of your own where you find that they are not included here.
The index, which commences on the next page, will provide you with a list in alphabetical order,
which will help you to find the words and phrases that you need with ease.
Page 6 of 34
Page 7 of 34
INDEX OF AUSTRALIAN SLANG

This index is in alphabetical order by word and by phrase. Phrases are listed in their entirety, for
ease of reference.
Word
Context of Use
Meaning/ other notes
Ace!
Thats ace!
Excellent, very good
Aliens
Visited by aliens
Menstruation (older)
Amber fluid
Get some amber fluid into yer
Beer (old fashioned, rural)
Ambo
Hes an ambo
Ambulance driver, paramedic
Ankle biters
Ive got three ankle biters
Young children
Apeshit
He went apeshit
Got very angry.

Vulgar expression.
Arab
Got an arab
Dry mouth
Around the
bend
She went round the bend
Mentally unwell/ unstable

Used in the third person.
Arse
On my arse (referring to arse)
Vulgar term for bottom.
Arse
Hes a pain in the arse

What a pain in the arse
Its a pain in the arse
Expression of annoyance or irritation.

Vulgar
Bachelor and Spinsters ball, held in rural areas
B&S
Back of
bourke
a long way away, up the back

o bourke
A very long way away
Back out
Ive put my back out
I have a sore back
Back
passage
Anus
Word
Context of Use
Bail up
He bailed her up in the pub.
To corner somebody
Balls
My balls are itchy.
Scrotum
Bananas
He went bananas
Mentally unwell/ unstable.

Also can mean angry, depending on context of
nonverbal language
Bathroom
Visit the bathroom
Go to the toilet
Bent
Im nice and bent
Affected by drugs. Most commonly used to refer

to marijuana
Berserk
I went berserk
Very angry
Better half
This is my better half.
Partner
Bingle
She was in a bingle.
Motor vehicle accident
Birds
Birds are all the same.
Women/ females. (old fashioned)
Bludger
Shes a real bludger.
Lazy person
Blue
Im feeling blue
Sad, depressed
Blue
There was a blue in the pub on

Saturday night.
Fight (rural)
Bogans
The place was full of bogans.
White trash, people in low socioeconomic areas
Scrotum (vulgar)
Bollocks
Boobs
My boobs hurt.
Breasts
Page 2 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Bottle-O
It was in the bottle-o.
Drive through bottle shop
Bound up
Im a bit bound up
Constipated (older people)
Boys/ girls
room
Visit the little boys room
Bathroom/ toilet
Breakfast
Brekkie
Bricks short
of a load
Hes two bricks short of a load
Lacking in intellect/ a bit stupid
Youve got buckleys

Buckleys
You know how many chances

youve got dont yer? Buckleys
and none.
You dont have much chance
Bugger off
Why dont yer just bugger off out

of it!
To leave/ go away (commonly used in irritation)
Buggered
I feel buggered
Tiredness
Bulldust
Thats bulldust!
Not true
Bum steer
Ive been given a bum steer
Misled
Bummer
What a bummer
Disappointing.
Used by younger people.
Bun in the
oven
Shes got a bun in the oven
Pregnant
Bushed
Im bushed
Tiredness
Bushed
I was completely bushed
Lost (mainly rural)
Butterflies
Ive got butterflies in my stomach
Anxiety, nervousness.
Females probably say this more than males.
Page 3 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Cable
Lay a cable
Faeces
Cancer
sticks
I bought some cancer sticks
Cigarettes (old fashioned) (mainly rural)
Carked it
She carked it
Died
Check it out
Oh, check it out!
Look (younger people)
Cheers
Thanks
Chicks
Women/ females. Most common among young

people and surfers
Chip off the

old block
Hes a real chip off the old block
Child resembles the parent (old fashioned)
Chook
Like a chook with its head cut off
Chook = chicken
chook with its head cut off = flustered
Chook
Old chook
Mum/ wife
Chuck
I chucked
Vomit
Chunder
I chundered all over the floor.
Vomit (mostly younger people)
Clap
Shes got the clap
Gonorrhoea
Cloud 9
Shes on cloud 9
Very Happy
Cold day in
hell
It will be a cold day in hell when

I
Expression of strong defiance
Cold one
Dyer wanna cold one?
Beer
Page 4 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Cold Turkey
Go cold turkey
Abstain from using drink/ drugs, after having

used them in considerable quantities over a
period of time
Coldie
I had a coldie.
Beer
Cool
Sounds cool
Oh, cool
Yeah, thats cool
Good, okay, excellent.

Can be combined with words like fun: ie, cool
fun
Cotton
mouth
Gave me complete cotton mouth.
Dry mouth
Counted
sheep
Shes counting sheep
Sleeping/ fell asleep
Crack the
whip
He cracked the whip
Working hard
Crap
I feel like crap

It was crap
This is crap
This tastes like crap
A general descriptor meaning bad (vulgar).

Also a vulgar term for faeces.
Crazy
Hes crazy
She went crazy
Mentally unwell.
Can sometimes mean angry depending on
context.
Crick
I have a crick in my neck
Sore neck
Crock
What a crock!
Not true
Crook
I feel crook
Unwell
Crook
That tasted crook
Bad
Curse
Got the curse
Cut
[persons]
lunch
The bugger cut Dicks lunch.
Steal someones partner
Cut snake
Shes as mad as a cut snake
Mentally unwell (old fashioned).

Page 5 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Cut snake
She was as mad as a cut snake
Angry, depending on context. (old fashioned).

Husband (older)
Dad
Daries
Got any daries?
Cigarettes (youth, rural)
Darts
Got any darts?
Cigarettes (rural)
Dead beat
Im dead beat
Tired
Dicky
He has a dicky heart
Doesnt work properly
Dill
Oh, youre a dill!
Silly
Dim
A bit dim
Lacking in intellect/a bit stupid
Ditzy
Didnt think I was that ditzy
Air-headed, silly, forgetful
Dodgy
Thats dodgy
Not very good quality
Dogs
dinner, done
like a
Im done like a dogs dinner
Tiredness (old fashioned)
Done and
dusted
All done and dusted
Deliberately forget about things. (old fashioned)
Done in
Im done in
Tiredness (old fashioned)
Doodle
My doodle hurts.
Penis (esp with children)
Doornail
Dead as a doornail
Dead
Page 6 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Down
I feel down
Sad, depressed
Downer
Shes on a downer
Sad, depressed
Downer
What a downer.
Disappointing.
Downhill
Its all downhill from here
Things are going badly and will probably get

worse. (old fashioned)
Drongo
Oh you drongo!
Im not a bloody drongo!
Idiot
Dropped off
I just dropped off
Fell asleep
Dry out
I need to dry out
Abstain from using alcohol after consuming

quite a bit over a period of time.
Duffer
Youre a duffer!
Silly (usually to young children who hurt

themselves in a minor way)
Dugans
I had a dugan
Cigarettes (younger people)
Dumps
Im down in the dumps
Sad, depressed.
Elbow
grease
Just needs a bit of elbow grease
Work hard
Hard work (eg scrubbing)
Fags
I bought some fags
Cigarettes
Fair to
middling
Im fair to middling
Feeling alright (old fashioned)
Fart
Pissed as a fart
Drunk
Fart
She farted
Pass flatulence
Page 7 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Fat as a pig
Im fat as a pig.
Overweight. Insulting when directed at

someone.
Fatso
What a fatso!
Overweight. Insulting when directed at someone
Fish out of
water
I felt like a fish out of water
Alien or out of place
Fit as a
fiddle
Im fit as a fiddle
Feeling good/ fit/ well
Flat as a
tack
She seemed flat as a tack
Sad, depressed. Can also mean tired.
Flat strap
Working flat strap
Working hard
Forty winks
Shes having forty winks
Sleeping
Frog
I have a frog in my throat
Sore throat that affects the voice
Front
passage
Problem with the front passage
Trouble with urinary tract, usually passing urine
Full packet
Not the full packet

Full quid
Hes not the full quid
Intellectual disability. Less often it is used to

mean mentally unwell/ unstable
Ga-ga
Shes gone ga-ga

Galah
Youre a galah!
Silly (rural)
Gammy
She has a gammy leg
Immobile, damaged, painful (old fashioned)
Gander
Have a gander
Look (older people)
Page 8 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Glad rags
Get your glad rags on
Dressed up
Egg
Goog
Full as a goog
Im full as a goog
Overeat
Hair brained
Shes bloody hair-brained
Silly
Hairy-arsed
goat
Running around like a hairyarsed goat
Flustered (vulgar).
Mainly used in rural areas.
Hatter
Mad as a hatter
Mentally unwell
Head down,
bum up
Working hard
Hell broke
loose
All hell broke loose!
Things went a bit crazy; people got angry.

Not used to refer directly to people or things.
Hell for
leather
She was going hell for leather
Very fast
Hell for
leather
Working hard
High
High as a kite
Affected by drugs
Home and
hosed
Its home and hosed
Finished
Hoons
rough people
How are you

going?
Greeting; return reply is good thanks, not

bad, and you, how are you?
Hubbie/Hubby
Husband
Page 9 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Hungries
Lets go to Hungries
Hungry Jacks (urban)
Hurl
Ooh, he hurled
Vomit
Iffy
Feeling iffy
Unwell
Iffy
Its a bit iffy
Uncertain
In a bind
In a difficult situation (old fashioned)
In a spot
In a difficult situation (old fashioned)
Itchy bits
Ive got itchy bits, doc
Itchy genitals
Jubba
What a jubba!

someone.
Kicked the
bucket
He kicked the bucket the other

day
Died
Children
Kids
Knackered
Im knackered
Tiredness
Knocked up
Hes knocked her up

Shes knocked up
Pregnant
Legless
He was legless
Drunk
Lights are
on but noones home
Like a
chimney
She smokes like a chimney
Heavy smoke
Page 10 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Like a fish
She drinks like a fish
Drinks a lot of alcohol, alcoholic
Like a light
Out like a light
Fall asleep
Like a train
He smokes like a train
Heavy smoker
Little woman
This is my little woman
Wife (older)
Load
Take a load off

Take a load off your feet
Sit down
Loo
Im going to the loo.
Toilet
Loopy
Shes loopy
Mentally unwell
Lord
Drunk as a lord
Drunk (old fashioned)
Lost it
She got upset and lost it
Angry, very angry
Lost the plot
He lost the plot
Angry. Also mentally unwell/ unstable,

depending on full context of use
Lousy
Im feeling lousy
Very unwell
Lousy
Thats lousy!
Awful
Lousy
This food tastes lousy
Awful
Lurgey
Ive got the lurgey
An illness going around at the time
Maccas
Lets go to maccas
McDonalds take away
Page 11 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Make
yourself
scarce
Go on, make yourself scarce.
To leave/ go away
Mental
Chuck a mental
Got very angry. Usually used by younger people.
Mental
Shes mental
Youre mental.
Intellectual disability. Derogatory term, used as

an insult, mainly by younger people.
Missus
Gotta ask the missus
Wife/ female partner
Monthlies
Ive got my monthlies
Menstruation/ menstruating. Older people.
Mother
Wife (older)
Mr Wobbly
Penis
Newt
Pissed as a newt
Drunk
Nick off
She nicked off!
To leave
Nick off
Why dont you just nick off!
Go away (used in argument)
Nodded off
He nodded off!
Fell asleep
Noggin
Watch your noggin!
Head. Often used to describe ones head (older

people), or in speaking to children
Nose to the
grindstone
Working hard
Number one
Urine (esp used with children)
Number Two
Faeces (esp used with children)
Page 12 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Nuts
Hes nuts
Mentally unwell
Nuts
Oooh me nuts!
testicles
Off
Im feeling a bit off
Unwell
Off colour
I feel off colour
Unwell
Off his head
He was totally off his head
Affected by drugs
Off my face
I was completely off my face.
Affected by alcohol or drugs
Off the
planet
He was off the planet
Affected by drugs
Old fella
The old fella hasnt been quite up

to it lately.
Penis
Old man
Husband (older people)

Dad (younger people)
One-eyed
trouser
snake
Penis
Other half
This is my other half.
Partner
Out of it
I was out of it
Affected by drugs/ drink
Over and
done with
Its all over and done with
Finished
Over the
moon
Im over the moon
Very Happy
Paint the
town red
Go out and get drunk
Page 13 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Pale as a
ghost
Im/ he/ she is/ was pale as a

ghost
Someone looked unwell or, depending on

context
Pass gas
She passed gas
Flatulence
Pass water
Urinate (old fashioned)
Pass wind
Pass flatulence
Passed
away
She passed away
Died
Pee
Urine
Percy
Penis
Periods
Ive got my periods
Menstruation/ menstruating. Very common in all

ages.
Pew
Pull up a pew
Sit down
PFO
Pissed and fell over
Drunk
Pins and
needles
Ive got pins and needles in my

finger!
Tingling/numbness in the limbs. Used by

absolutely everybody.
Piss
Urine or alcohol (depending on context)
Piss off
To leave/ go away (vulgar; commonly used in

irritation)
Pissed
He was pissed!
Drunk (vulgar)
Pissed
I was so pissed!
Angry (younger people) (vulgar)
Page 14 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Plastered
I was plastered
Drunk
Pokies
She spends all day in the pokies.
Gambling machines/ place where people use

gambling machines (short for poker machines)
Faeces
Poo
Pop
I popped!
Pass flatulence (esp with children)
Pop off
I popped off!
Pass flatulence (esp with young children)
Porker
Hes a porker.

someone.
Porky
Shes porky.

someone.
Powder my
nose
If youll excuse me, I just need to

powder my nose.
Urinate (old fashioned)
Preggers
I dont want to get preggers
Pregnant
Prezzie
Thanks for the prezzie!
Present
Pub
Im going down the pub.
Hotel (everyone)
Puke
Oh yuk, she puked!
Vomit
Pull your
finger out
Well, you just need to pull your

finger out.
Work hard
Doctor
Quack
Rabbits
They breed like rabbits
Have many children. Often used in a derogatory

sense, as in Australia the rabbit is a pest.
Page 15 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Rags
Got your rags

On my rags
Got my rags
Menstruating/ menstruation.
Considered vulgar by some, but is very common
among lots of ages in rural areas.
Rapt
Im rapt
Shes rapt
Very happy, very impressed. Mainly used by

younger people but can be used by people up to
the age of 55.
Raw prawn
Dont come the raw prawn with

me!
Innocence.
It means that you shouldnt lie to the person (old
fashioned)
Used more in rural areas
Red flag
The red flags flying
Red herring
Misled
Riff-raff
rough people
Rocket
scientist
Shes not a rocket scientist
Rollies
Have you got any rollies?
Roll-your-own cigarettes
Rooted
Im rooted
Tiredness
Rooted
He rooted her
He had sex with her
Rooted
I was rooted
Tiredness or having had sex, depending on other

context.
Children
Rug rats
Run down
Ive been feeling run down
Unwell and tired
Runs
Ive got the runs
Diarrhoea
Sandwich
short of a
picnic
Hes a sandwich short of a picnic.
Page 16 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Scatterbrained
Gee, youre a bit scatter-brained

today.
Scone
On me scone
Head.
Screamed
the place
down
She screamed the place down
Got very angry and yelled a lot.

Usually used in the third person.
Screw loose
Shes got a screw loose
Mentally unwell/ unstable. Used in the third

person
Seedy
Im feeling seedy
Unwell
Seedy
Im feeling seedy
Hungover, depending on the context.
Shag on a
rock
I felt like a shag on a rock
Alien or out of place (old fashioned)
Sheila
Shes not a bad sheila.
Women/ females a very Australian term.

Mostly rural.
Shit
I feel like shit

It was shit
This is shit
A general descriptor meaning bad (vulgar)
Shithouse
I feel shithouse
It was shithouse
That is shithouse
Generally means bad; in terms of health it

means unwell. (vulgar)
Shits
It gives me the shits

He gives me the shits
Expression of annoyance or irritation.

Vulgar
Shits
Ive got the shits
Diarrhoea
Shoot
through
She just shot through
To leave
Psychiatrist
Shrink
Sick as a
dog
I am sick as a dog
Very unwell
Page 17 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Sickie
Take a sickie
Chuck a sickie
Didnt go to work because of illness or

pretended illness (most common is the latter)
Six foot
under
Shes six foot under
Dead
Skunk
Drunk as a skunk
Bra (older people)
Slingshot
Smashed
She was smashed
Affected by alcohol or drugs
Smoke-O
I noticed it on smoke-o.
Break, like morning tea
Snag
Do you want a snag?
Sausage
Snag short
of a barbie
Snooze
Im going to have a snooze
Sleep
Snuffed it
He snuffed it
Died
Sore thumb
She stuck out like a sore thumb
Alien or out of place
So-so
Im so-so
Feeling alright
South
Its all gone south

Its all south from here
Things are going badly and will probably get

worse (old fashioned)
Spaced out
Shes spaced out
Intellectual disability OR affected by drugs,

depending on context
Spend a
penny
I need to go spend a penny.
Urine/ go to the toilet (old fashioned, rural)
Page 18 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Spew
Im gonna spew
I spewed
Vomit.
Spewing
She was spewing
Angry.
Spewing
Im spewing about it!
Angry, or jealous, depending on context.

Splitting
head
I have a splitting head
Headache
Sprog
There was sprog all over the floor!
Semen
Spun me out
It totally spun me out
Amazed (younger)
Spun out
I was completely spun out
Affected by drugs
Squiz
Have a squiz
Look
Squizzum
Dyer wanna have a squizzum?
Look (old fashioned)
Stage
Just a stage hes going through
Adolescence
Stiff as a
board
Im as stiff as a board
Have stiff or aching muscles.
Stoked
Im stoked!
Very happy or very impressed. Younger persons

expression.
Stoned
Im stoned
Affected by drugs; most commonly used to refer

to marijuana
Stuffed
Im stuffed
Tiredness
Stuffed
myself
I totally stuffed myself

Im stuffed
Overeat
Page 19 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Stuffed up
She stuffed up her knee
Injured
Tacker
Little tacker
Children/ young children
Tailors
I dont smoke tailors
Ready-made cigarettes
Tard
Dont be a tard!
Mum, is he a tard?
Person with severe physical or intellectual

disability. Insulting.
Tea
Do you wanna come over for tea?
Dinner, evening meal
Technicolour
yawn
Vomit (older)
Thongs
I was wearing thongs.
Cheap rubber backless sandals
Throw up
Im gonna throw up.
Vomit
Ticker
The old ticker
Heart. Used more often by older people.
Tickets
Shes got tickets on herself

Hes got tickets
Overconfident/ arrogant
Used in the third person
Can be used as an insult.
Tight
She was pretty tight
Tinnie
I had about six tinnies.
Can of beer
Tip-top
Im in tip-top shape
Good/ fit/ well
Tits
My tits feel weird.
Breasts
Toot (sound
like book)
Just goin to the toot!
Toilet
Page 20 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Top of the
world
Im on top of the world
Very happy
Trolley
Off his trolley
Trolley
Off his trolley
Mentally unwell
Trots
Ive got the trots
Diarrhoea (older people)
Trouble
down there
Ive had a bit of trouble down

there.
Problem with genitals
Tubby
Oi! Tubby!
Im a bit tubby.
Overweight.
Insult when directed at someone.
Tucker
I think the tucker was bad.
Food
Tuckered
out
Im all tuckered out

I was tuckered out
Tiredness (old fashioned or to children)
Tummy
My tummys sore.
Stomach
Turd
He did a turd.
Faeces (by children/ younger people)
Two bob
short
Hes two bob short
Lacking in intellect/ a bit stupid (old fashioned)
Under the
carpet
Sweep it under the carpet
Deliberately forget about things. (old fashioned)
Under the
table
Its all under the table
Deliberately forget about things. (old fashioned).
Under the
table
It was done under the table
Not in accordance with the rules
Under the
weather
Im under the weather

I feel a bit under the weather
Unwell
Page 21 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Underdaks
My underdaks feel too tight.
Underpants
Undies
My undies feel too tight.
Underpants
Unreal
Thats unreal!
Oh, unreal!
I had an unreal time
Up him/herself
Hes up himself
Shes up himself
Overconfident/ arrogant.
Can be used as an insult.
Up shit
creek
[without a
paddle]
We were really up shit creek
Up the creek
Now were up the creek!
In a difficult situation
Up the duff
Shes up the duff again
Pregnant (younger, low socioeconomic)
Up the spout
Shes up the spout
Pregnant
Vamoose
Lets vamoose!
To leave
Vegetable
Poor kids a vegetable now.

Veggie
Mum, hes a vegie!

Visitor
Ive got the visitor
Wag
I wagged
I wagged it
Miss school illegally
Wally
Youre a wally!
Silly
Wasted
She was wasted

I was wasted
Affected by drugs and/or alcohol (younger)
He was up shit creek without a

paddle
In a difficult situation (vulgar)
Page 22 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Waterhole
Heading down to the waterhole

after work.
Hotel (older)
Watering
hole
Heading down to the watering

hole after work.
Hotel (older)
Waterworks
Seems to be a problem with the

waterworks.
Urine/ urination (older people)
Wee
I need to wee all the time.
Urine
Urine (esp used with children)
Wee wee
Whacked
He was whacked
Affected by drugs
Whinge
She keeps whingeing about her

sore finger.
To complain
White balls
on a black
dog
He stuck out like white balls on a

black dog
Alien or out of place (vulgar)

(rural)
Wicked
Thats wicked!
Oh, wicked!
I had a wicked time
Wild goose
chase
Shes gone on a wild goose chase
Misled
Wired to the
ground
Completely wired to the ground.
Affected by drugs, specifically marijuana
With child
Shes with child
Pregnant (old fashioned)
Wobbly
He chucked a wobbly
Got angry.
Used by/ to younger people.
Wog
Ive got a wog

Ive had a wog
Twenty-four hour wog
I caught a wog
Unidentified minor illness, like flu

Illness that lasted a day
Caught a minor illness
Wonky
I feel wonky
Unwell, dizzy
Page 23 of 34
Word
Context of Use
Wonky
Thats wonky
Crooked
Woozy
I feel woozy
Unwell, dizzy, lightheaded
Work like a
dog
Wrong end
of the stick
Work hard
No, youve got the wrong end of

the stick
Yobbo
Misled, misunderstood
rough people
Other resources and lists of words you mind find useful include:
Hunt, Ken. 1993. The Xenophobes Guide to the Aussie. Ravette Books: Sussex.
Lambast, J (ed). 2000. Macquarie Book of Slang; Australian Slang in the Noughties. Macquarie
University Press: Sydney.
Australian slang at www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html
Page 24 of 34

Slang Handbook 09

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Slang Handbook 09

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Talking about

health and illness

By Dr Anna Chur-Hansen and students

Copyright 1998 University of Adelaide Department of Psychiatry. Used with

Senior Education Research Officer

WHAT IS COLLOQUIAL ENGLISH?

WHAT CAN I DO IF SOMEONE

A strategy for use in the clinical situation.

Write down the word in a notebook dedicated to the purpose.

Ensure you find out who would use the word/phrase;

WHAT STRATEGIES ARE THERE

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON

INDEX OF AUSTRALIAN SLANG

Meaning/ other notes

Excellent, very good

Get some amber fluid into yer

Beer (old fashioned, rural)

Ambulance driver, paramedic

Ive got three ankle biters

Got very angry.

She went round the bend

Mentally unwell/ unstable

On my arse (referring to arse)

Vulgar term for bottom.

Hes a pain in the arse

Expression of annoyance or irritation.

Bachelor and Spinsters ball, held in rural areas

a long way away, up the back

A very long way away

Ive put my back out

I have a sore back

Meaning/ other notes

He bailed her up in the pub.

My balls are itchy.

Mentally unwell/ unstable.

Visit the bathroom

Im nice and bent

Affected by drugs. Most commonly used to refer

This is my better half.

She was in a bingle.

Motor vehicle accident

Birds are all the same.

Women/ females. (old fashioned)

Shes a real bludger.

There was a blue in the pub on

The place was full of bogans.

White trash, people in low socioeconomic areas

Meaning/ other notes

It was in the bottle-o.

Drive through bottle shop

Constipated (older people)

Visit the little boys room

Hes two bricks short of a load

Lacking in intellect/ a bit stupid

Youve got buckleys

You know how many chances

You dont have much chance

Why dont yer just bugger off out

To leave/ go away (commonly used in irritation)

Ive been given a bum steer

Shes got a bun in the oven

I was completely bushed

Lost (mainly rural)

Ive got butterflies in my stomach