I got asked quite a bit- how far is Oz from Canada? I also got asked what certain Aussie slang meant.. It takes 14 hours and 45 minutes to get from Vancouver to Brisbane direct. It would take you 11 hrs and 51 minutes to get from Vancouver to Calgary by road, without stopping. It would take you 22 hours and 53 minutes to get from Kelowna to Winnipeg without stopping by road. To get things in perspective. It would take you longer to get to Italy from Western North America than to Australia.
As far as an Australian is concerned, anything can, and should, be abbreviated. Abbreviation is achieved by taking the main root of the word and adding “ie” or “y” and “o”. Australians abbreviate nouns, names, places, anything at all!
Common abbreviations are:
Aussie = Australian
Arvo = Afternoon
Bickies = Biscuits, cookies
Blowie = Blowfly
Brekky = Breakfast
Brolly = Umbrella
Chrissie = Christmas
Cocky = Cockatoo, native bird of Australia, can also mean a farmer
Cozzie = Swimming costume / swimsuit / bathing suit
Footy = Football of any variation (Aussie rules, Rugby League, Soccer)
Greenie = Mildly derogatory term for a conservationist
Journo = Journalist
Middy = A medium sized glass of beer
Mozzies = Mosquitoes
Pokies = Poker or slot machines. Also, one-armed bandits
Pollie = Politician
Pommy = Someone from Britain, the acronym P.O.M.E. was stamped on early convicts clothing, which stood for Prisoner Of Mother England
Pressie = Present
Tinnie = Can of cold beer
Troppo = Crazy behaviour
Vegies = Vegetables
Other common words and expressions are:
Are you right? = An inquiry as to whether the questioner can do anything for you e.g. “Are you being served?” from a shop assistant
Back of Beyond = “Way out in the bush”, “in the Never Never”, “close to the “Black Stump” are euphemisms for the middle of nowhere
Beaut = Very good, excellent
Bludge/Bludger = To impose on, to not pay one’s way e.g. “dolebludger” is someone on unemployment benefits
Fair suck of the sav! : exclamation of wonder, awe, disbelief
Dead dingo's donger :
(as dry as a) dry
Turps, hit the : go on a drinking binge
Piece of piss : easy task
Kangaroos loose
in the top paddock : Intellectually inadequate
Buckley's chance :
(you've got) no chance
It was about 20 hours from Toronto to Sydney for me, but when you factor in the time zone difference, it became 2 days :(
ReplyDeleteIt can put people off coming. I usually just end up catching up on TV series or movies I haven't seen, get some sleep, read a book and I'm there. Regret nothing and you won't be disappointed. Now that Oprah has shown her Australian episodes Qantas (Australian airline) has given out some great deals at http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/international-flight-specials/from-sydney/economy/global/en?departureAirportCode=SYD&arrivalAirportCode=YVR&int_cam=au:hcp:oprahultimateadventure:jan11
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