Following on last week’s entry about Aussie words you need to understand if you want to survive in these parts, here are a couple more words and expressions I encounter occasionally and, occasionally, quite often:
Silvertail. Wealthy, affluent, socially privileged — but not necessarily in a good way. The eastern suburbs of Sydney are known as “silvertail” suburbs and new leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Turnbull, is routinely dismissed as a silvertail.
Westie. Resident of Sydney’s western suburbs, historically less affluent than the east. Many Westies have become cashed-up bogans, but it’s also the mortgage belt in the west that has seen house prices decline as interest rates rise and borrowers are unable to meet their obligations.
I don’t want a bar of it. Common Aussie expression indicating strong antipathy.
Pollie. Politician.
Had a gutful. As in “The public have had a gutful of Kevin Rudd/ Morris Iemma/ Belinda Neal/ that Family First senator that blocked the Medicare bill”.
Let’s nut it out. An expression I encounter all the time in the office, invariably used to refer to a difficult or challenging brief. The equivalent of “let’s figure it out” or “let’s work it out”.
Bub. Baby. The public are still eagerly awaiting the first proper photographs of Nicole Kidman and her bub.
Kindy. As in “he’s a bit too kindy”. A shortened version of “kindergarten”. This expression is used for people who look too young to be worth dating.
More suggestions are, of course, always welcome.
A prince with dignity and determination
Prince Ngarambe’s goals are to become Rwanda’s first transgender model and to uplift the country’s youth
The EFF’s principles are unshakeable
Unlike the ANC, the core values of the freedom fighters do not change with each leader it elects
