macquarie 
Each week, we have a look at a slang word from Australian English. This week we look at No flies on you a complimentary phrase roughly translating to ‘you are clever’. This has been Aussie slang since the 1840s and is one
If you cast your minds back, you may remember calling the humble banana a nana as a child. Originally an Australian toddler’s word, dating back to the 1890s, this is now a very common term. So common in fact, that Australian Bananas uses it as well. Another reason this may be so easy to recognise is … Read more
Each week, we have a look at a slang word from Australian English. This week we look at puggle. Nowadays, a puggle refers to the young of an echidna until it leaves the pouch. However, a puggle was originally a trademark name for a fictitious Australian bush
Once a month, we pick out a few words submitted by you for consideration in the Macquarie Dictionary. We’re looking for anything new, quirky, out of left field, Australian-specific or completely unknown and obscure. Nothing is off the table! For the month of May, we have had a significant amount of submissions, and have picked seven … Read more
One of the most difficult questions to answer, particularly when working for the Macquarie Dictionary, is “What is your favourite word?”. The answer can change depending on your mood, on the time of day, on the event or upcoming events, on any little thing, but there are usually one or two ‘go-to’ words that will always please.
A lamington is an Australian culinary treat essentially consisting of sponge cake pieces dipped in runny chocolate and then rolled in desiccated coconut. And while this may seem comical in hindsight (something like the etymology of sandwich), it is thought to have been named for Lord Lamington 1860–1940, governor of Qld, 1895–1901. Of course, the lamington being … Read more
Each week, we have a look at a slang word from Australian English. You can see other Aussie Word of the Week posts from the Macquarie Dictionary here. This week we look at you’ll do.
Each week, we have a look at a slang word from Australian English. You can see other Aussie Word of the Week posts from the Macquarie Dictionary here. This week we look at westie.
There are a number of colloquial definitions for shocker in the Macquarie Dictionary. Of course, we are referring to something dreadfully bad. Here in Australia, it is commonly used in sport for a bad game. Either one that has been watched or one competed in. As in, had a shocker last Saturday. This has of … Read more
We have all had a parent refer to a doodad, thingummyjig, do-hickey or dooverlackie. But the most common replacement word for thing in the Australian vernacular, is doover. We have spoken about these types of words before in our blog on thingummyjig. The word is thought to have its origins in British English of the … Read more
