Billabong Sandals

Billabong Sandals

Aussie English

 

In the 200 odd years since settlement, Australian English and British English have drifted apart. Words that met an untimely death in the old country have remained alive in Oz.  New words have been invented. I'll stick to words and phrases that are so deeply entrenched that I have to remind myself that my British and North American friends might not understand what I'm saying. I hasten to add that I was born in the UK and retain some memory of how English was spoken in that country.

Ocker: vulgar speech: sometimes faked by middle-class Australians pretending to come from working-class backgrounds: developed to perfection by former Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke. Based on Oscar, a vulgar little larrikin in a 1960s TV series.
Larrikin: boisterous, often badly behaved young man. 19th century English dialect.
Galah: Stupid person. After the rosy cockatoo, famed for hanging upside down in the rain.
Tucker: food. From early 19th century British slang.
Mate: Used by people trying to be friendly and people with a bad memory for names.
Thongs: sandals, flip-flops. Not to be confused with the North American "G-string".
Wowser: censorious person. Used of killjoys trying to stop you having a good time.
Dunny: toilet. From Scottish dialect.
Thunder box: toilet.
Poor bastard: term of affection.
Clever bastard: term of abuse.
Bloody: very.
Wog: minor infection.
Hoon: lout, especially one who drives dangerously.
Dinkum: genuine, true, honest.
Sheila: girl or woman. From Irish form of Celia.
Crook: unwell.
Shonky: unreliable, dishonest.
Spiel: story. From German.
Wag: play truant.
True blue: worthy, genuine.
Bitumen: tarmac. Refers to sealed roads as opposed to dirt roads.
Creek: intermittent watercourse, usually steep-sided. Differs from American and British usage.
Billabong: water hole, particularly in a dry riverbed. Aboriginal.
Property/station: large farm or ranch. The British term "farm" didn't seem appropriate for the huge holdings allotted to early settlers.
Grazier: Someone who farms sheep or cattle.
She'll be right: Don't worry.
Good on yer: thanks.
Avag'day: goodbye.
Goodbye: God be with you. No longer used in that sense.
Gorblimey: struth. From "God blind me.". Not much used anymore.
Wotcha: hullo. From "What hails you?". Not much used anymore.

Exercise
Translate the following:
A mate of mine (whose name I can't remember) had this spiel about a young larrikin who stole the school bus and went hooning with a mob of young sheilas. They wagged off down to the creek where he tried to impress the girls by burning rubber. The stupid galah was wearing thongs and got one stuck under the pedal. He lost control. The bus left the bitumen. He swerved to avoid a mob of cattle and ended up in a billabong. The grazier, who was droving the beasts, jumped in to rescue the kids. The poor bastard got a wog from the dirty water and he's now so crook he's confined to the station and spends half his time in the dunny.

For more: http://mikestales.wordpress.com

About the Author

 

I either started off on the wrong foot or I'm the legendry rolling stone. Normally, a degree in astrophysics does not lead to a stint in Parliament House, public relations, backpacker resorts and the diving industry.  But that's what happened to me.  I'm now retired in the sense that I no longer need to work for a living and that gives me a lot of time for travelling and writing.

My web pages:

http://shadymike.wordpress.com

http://mikestales.wordpress.com

 

 

Billabong Braidy Sandals (MOCHA) $22 The Braidy Sandal by Billie Girls Billabong. Your daughter will look adorable wearing these super cute braided sandals by Billabong. So surprise them with an early summer treat and have them rock these sandals.

Billabong Bermuda Sandals (GOLD) $22 The Billabong Bermuda Sandals are so fun that you'll want to wear them with every outfit These vegan leather sandals feature basket weave and braided straps, with a logo printed on the footbed.

Billabong Allison Sandals (MOCHA) $29.5 Get a little more decorated than just wearing an average sandal. Slip on the Billabong Allison Sandals featuring vegan leather, suede upper, fringe detail, metal charm at the center, with a logo printed on the footbed.

Womens Billabong Sandals - Billabong Line Em Up Ya'll Sandals $18 Online Exclusive! Flexible straps. Billabong printed on outer sole. Padded outer sole.

Womens Billabong Sandals - Billabong Woven Through Time Sandals $24.5 Woven braided straps. Soft outside sole. Billabong printed on sole. Padded sole.

Billabong Eleven Sandal (Mocha) $24 The Billabong Eleven Sandals are a vegan suede slingback sandal features thin straps and a vegan leather footbed.

Billabong Eleven Sandal (Ruby) $24 The Billabong Eleven Sandals are a vegan suede slingback sandal features thin straps and a vegan leather footbed.

Billabong Strapped Sandal (DARK BRONZE) $22 Secure your look with the Billabong Strapped Sandal. These sandals are made with vegan leather, multi-straps at the front, and Billabong debossed at the heel of the foot bed.

Billabong Women's Too Good Black Sandals $58.19 Brand & Style - Billabong Too GoodWidth - Medium (B, M)True Color - BlackUpper Material - SyntheticOutsole Material - Man-Made Heel Height - 0.25 Inches

Billabong Women's Braidy Black Sandals $58.19 Brand & Style - Billabong BraidyWidth - Medium (B, M)True Color - BlackUpper Material - PolyurethaneOutsole Material - Man-Made Heel Height - 0.25 Inches

Billabong Women's Saddleback Blacks Sandals $54.03 Brand & Style - Billabong SaddlebackWidth - Medium (B, M)True Color - BlackUpper Material - Basic TextileOutsole Material - Man-Made Heel Height - 0.25 Inches

Billabong Women's Braidy Brown Sandals $58.19 Brand & Style - Billabong BraidyWidth - Medium (B, M)True Color - MochaUpper Material - PolyurethaneOutsole Material - Man-Made Heel Height - 0.25 Inches