Fair Dinkem!

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Hey 'how you goin'? There are so many hilarious Aussie expressions! The title of this blog -fair dinkem- means "genuine" or "authentic". So you could say 'fair dinkem mate' and you would mean 'true, my friend' or you could say 'this Michael Jackson autograph is fair dinkem', i.e. 'this MJ autograph is genuine'.

If you 'ring up a sparkie', you're calling an electrician.

If you 'crack the shits' or 'go tropo', you're going crazy.

'Witches hats' are traffic cones. And 'exy' means expensive.

If you want beer, you can buy 'tinnies' (cans) or 'stubbies' (bottles) and you might even have a 'roadie' (one for the road). AND you would definitely drink it out of a 'stubby coola' (coozie) to keep it cold.

When you ride your 'pushy' (bicycle) to the beach in the 'arvo' (afternoon) you need to wear your 'sunnies' (sunglasses) and if you go near the water you need to watch out for the 'mozzies' (mosquitoes), the 'salties' (saltwater crocodiles), or maybe even the 'freshies' (freshwater crocs). But if you were stupid enough to go in the water, you would need to wear your 'swimmers' (bathing suit).

You would never seriously call your 'bestie' (best friend) a 'bogan' (hoodlum or loser) or 'earbash' (non-stop chatter) him during some 'footy' (football), even if he was looking like a silly 'bloke' in his 'trackies' (track suit) and eating some 'Mackers' (MacDonald's). He might get 'mad as a cut snake' (really angry). Instead you could just pass him the 'dead horse' (ketchup) and a 'coldie' (yet another term for beer). Don't overindulge though or the next morning you could find yourself on the toilet having a 'grog bog' (gross crap).

I'd like to think of this blog as a 'doco' (documentary) of our time in Ozzie Land. I could have chosen to use 'facey' (facebook) instead but this blog site rules!

In case I don't talk to you beforehand, here's wishing you and your family a Merry Chrissie (I'm not making that up)! Hope you get some time off so you don't need to 'chuck a sickie' (call in sick when you're healthy). Enjoy eating a lot of 'chokkie' (chocolate) and 'chook' (chicken) but you'd best avoid the 'cockies' (cockroaches). And I sure hope Santa brings you some great 'prezzies'! :-) If you don't get a chance to wish me a Merry Chrissie, 'no worries mate'!

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Photos

A 'genuine' company
And apparently, you really don't need to worry about how genuine they are!

A coldie in a stubby cooler
This is a Cooper's -a pricy but tasty no additives, no preservatives, Australian made beer. I do miss very delicious and cheap Québec beer though. Also featured are some gorgeous flowers my hubby got me!

Comments

[maya]

i love this. it sounds like they speak a completely different language.

[di]

new langie
sooo, you're learning a new language! you'll come back with yet one more langie under your belt! It seems all you have to do is shorten the word and you've got it! So merry chrissie, mates! missie you!! xo

[Sarah]

I'll add one more to your list...
Hey Elaine! Another great Aussie-ism is "cackle-berry", for eggs! I so miss riding my pushie around that country.... So funny that you mention MJ, because me and Lisa were discussing your love for him just yesterday! We will definitely miss you at the staff party, but you are in a far better place than us... have a great Xmas, love to Majeed. Sarah