macquarie

The English language is a funny thing. Some words make sense and others… well they take a dictionary to decipher. There are words that will discombobulate or even cause a bit of brouhaha. But once you know their meaning they’ll make perfect sense! Unless we’re full of malarky? Let’s have a squiz at some of our … Read more

This month’s new words come to you from your local dog park. You may have heard of the labradoodle. This breed is in vogue, but did you know that an Australian cobberdog is a pure breed labradoodle? Have you visited the Glitter Strip at golden hour? This isn’t quite as bright as it sounds. Glitter … Read more

Bloody oath! Aussies love swearing, just ask Cate Blanchett. But there are times when swearing isn’t appropriate, like when your granny comes to visit. Don’t fret. If you need to let off some steam, or if your lingo consists mostly of language that would make your granny blush, then the Macquarie Dictionary has got you … Read more

Welcome to March. Summer is slipping away. Soon it will just be a memory of sunburn on your skin after a long day at the beach. If you dread short days and chilly weather, console yourself with these six new words.  Ah, the sizzle of bacon on the frying pan. If you love bacon you … Read more

Starve the lizards! No, this isn’t the beginning of some peculiar anti-reptile campaign, rather, starve the lizards is a great Aussie exclamation of surprise that has sadly fallen out of use.  Occasionally changed to stiffen the lizards, this scaly piece of slang was first recorded back in the 1920s. Stone the crows is a similar … Read more

Drinking: an Aussie tradition, and though we try to do so in moderation, occasionally things get out of hand and we find ourselves doing a shoey. A shoey is the act of drinking a beverage, usually an alcoholic beverage, out of a shoe. Often a ritual at the end of a sporting competition, especially motor sports, … Read more

This week we are offering discounted slang words. Ever been ripped off? Ever shoveled out ten bucks for a slice of gluten free bread about the size of a credit card? If so you have felt the rough end of the pineapple. Unfortunately, this incredible piece of slang means that you got a raw deal; the … Read more

Slip on your thongs and grab a stubbie because this week we going ocker. Referring to the archetypal uncultivated Australian working man, ocker also known as occa and okker, is generally used in a negative way to depict a chauvinistic, misogynistic, sports-loving, beer-gutted, esky-carrying, rubber-thong-wearing yob who is totally lacking in sensitivity, compassion, gentleness and insight. It’s … Read more

At the Macquarie Dictionary head office, we are fond of road trips. One of our favourite parts of cruising through the outback is when you notice your fuel drop down to two bars with a hundred kilometres to go before the next servo. Oh, the thrill of not knowing whether you’ll make it. Ah, the … Read more