Australian Slang - Local Lingo
Unique Phrases - Memorable Quotes - S
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
SADDLING PADDOCK - a place to pick up women; originally the bar in the Threatre Royal, Melbourne
SAIDA (SAYEEDA) - greeting, good-day (WW1)
SALTBUSH - species of plant covering extensive plains central Australia
SALTBUSH BILL - a character in poems written by Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson. First published in The Bulletin on 15 December 1894. "Now Saltbush Bill was a drover tough as ever the country knew, He had fought his way on the Great Stock Routes from the sea to the Big Barcoo"
SALTIE - saltwater crocodilele
SALVOS - Salvation Army personnel
SAND GROPER - person from Western Australia
SANDY BERET - Worn by qualified members of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment. Sand-coloured beret with metal gold and silver winged dagger badge on a black shield
SANDY BLIGHT - trachoma; at one time this was a common eye complaint/disease
SANDSHOES - sneakers; tennis shoes
SANFAIRYANN - almost finished, but it does not matter (1918)
SAN FERRY ANN - as above
SANGER or SANGA - sandwich
SANTA CLAUS - fluffy airborne seeds from thistle or similar; children used to make a wish and blow the seeds in the wind
SAO - charity biscuit - it used to be handed out by Salvation Army Officers
SAPPED - ring-barked (1871)
SARVO - this afternoon
SASR - The Special Air Service Regiment - an elite special forces unit of the Australian Army. Formed in 1957, motto Who Dares Wins. Entire Regiment and Special Operations Task Group of 3,000 soldiers treated disgracefully by feckless upper echelons of the Defence Force and Government in 2020 in the wake of the Brereton Report and unproven rumours of wrongdoings allegedly committed by 25 soldiers in Afghanistan.
SAUSAGE SIZZLE - community event where BBQ sausage and sauce are served wrapped in bread. Often fund raisers eg Bunnings sausage sizzle
SAV - short for Saveloy, a hot dog-like boiled sausage served in a bread roll with tomato sauce. A battered sav is a battered saveloy which has been battered, deep fried and served with tomato sauce
SAVEE - Do you Know? (soldier slang WW1)
SAY IT DON'T SPRAY IT - WE WANT THE NEWS NOT THE WEATHER - don't spit when talking
SCAB - abusive term; non union worker
SCALE A TRAM - ride on a tram without paying a fare
SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF - frightened someone
SCHNITTY - chicken schnitzel usually purchased in a pub
SCHOOLIES - week after year 12 finish school spent partying
SCHOOL OF THE AIR - School lessons by radio for outback children
SCORCHER - very hot day
SCOTTISH MARTYRS - Thomas Palmer, William Skirving, Joseph Gerrald and Maurice Margarot arrived on the Surprise in 1794
SCRAG - to hang on the gallows (flash language, Hardy Vaux)
SCRAN - prison ration food
SCREWS - also Fingers and blokes - prison slang for warders 1893
SCROUNGE - pilfer ( soldier slang WW1)
SCRUB - remote area of low trees and bushland
SCRUB-CATTLE - escaped cattle that run wild in the scrub(Morris 1898)
SCRUBBER - a bullock that has taken to the scrub and so become wild; also formerly used for a wild horse later known as a brumby(Morris 1898)
SCRUBBER - another term for croppy
SCRUBBER - promiscuous woman
SECRET BALLOT - Also known as Australian ballot - when a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous, forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation, blackmailing, and potential vote buying. First implemented in 1856
SEE A MAN ABOUT A DOG - go to the toilet
SELECTOR - farmer who is was allowed to occupy a small portion of a squatter's holding and farm it
SEND HER DOWN HUEY - (Hughie); a response to the onset of rain; can't get enough of it
SENT OUT - transported to Australia as a convict
SEPPO - someone from America - from septic tank (rhyming slang for Yank)
SERVO – Service Station / Garage
SETTLE PETAL - relax, chill out. Don t get so upset
SETTLER'S CLOCK (also Hawkesbury Clock) - another name for the laughing jackass (Morris 1898)
SETTLER'S FRIENDS - greenhide and stringbark, which made useable rope and twine
SETTLERS' MATCHES - long pendulous strips of bark from Eucalypt trees which were readily ignited and used as kindling (Morris 1898)
SEVENTEENER - corpse (criminal slang 1940)
SHADES - Sun glasses
SHAG - to have sex
SHAG ON A ROCK - lonely; isolated
SHAGGIN' WAGON - panel van; also Bog Wagon
SHAKE - to steal or rob a person
SHAKE IT - wishes to acquire (soldier slang WW1)
SHALLOW GROUND - land with gold near the surface (Whitney 1870s)
SHAMMY - a bag of chamois leather in which miners kept their gold dust (Whitney 1870s)
SHANDY - drink; mixture of lemonade and beer
SHANDY-GAFF - drink; mixture of half beer, half of ginger beer. Sometimes other liquors are used instead of beer e.g. stout or rum
SHANGHAI - catapult made from fork of a branch and rubber strap
SHANGHAI SHOT - a short distance; a stone's throw (Morris 1898)
SHANK'S PONY - on foot
SHANTY - a rough bush house
SHANTY-KEEPER - keeper of a sly grog shop (Morris 1898)
SHARK BAIT -person swimming out further than others
SHARP AS A TACK - smart person
SHARPIES - youth group c. 1960's. Alternative to hippies
SHAZZA - Sharon
SHEARER'S JOY - a name given to colonial beer (Morris 1898)
SHEPHERD (to) - to watch, to guard; e.g. on the football field
SHEARER'S STRIKE - In 1891 the Shearer's Strike occurred in Queensland and a State of Emergency was declared. The Moreton Mounted Infantry was called-out to re-establish and maintain civil order and discipline. They were placed on full time duty for five months and served in the Barcaldine, Clermont, Longreach and Charleville districts
SHE ASKED ME WHAT TYPE OF CONTRACEPTIVE I USE. UNDERWEAR - KEEPING IT ON PREVENTS PREGNANCY. - Melina Marchetta, quote from movie Looking for Alibrandi
SHED - formerly a woolshed, often a large expensive building(Morris 1898)
SHEEP PEST - perennial rosaceous herb, the hardened calx tube in fruit is beset with bard spines making it a serious nuisance in wool (Whitney 1895)
SHEEPSKIN - the skin of a sheep fastened to the end of a long stick as used for beating out bush-fires (Whitney, 1870's)
SHEILA – an Australian female; not derogatory; from the Irish word for a girl shelagh
SHELF - police informer (criminal slang 1950)
SHELL-GRINDER - another name for the Port Jackson Shark
SHE'LL BE APPLES - all will be ok
SHE'LL BE RIGHT - In the face of adversity, everything will be ok
SHEMOZZLE - mixed up mess
SHE-OAK - tree of the genus casuarina
SHE-OAK - slang name for colonial beer (Morris 1898)
SHE-OAK NETS - nets placed on each side of a gangway from a ship to the pier to prevent salors who have been indulging in she oak beer falling into the water (Morris 1898)
SHEPHERD- to guard a mining claim and do a little work on it so as to preserve legal rights (Morris 1898)
SHEPHERD'S COMPANION - the willy wagtail, which often rides on the sheep's back pulling out the wool for it's nest
SHE'S CACTUS - broken
SHE'S RIGHT MATE - everything is alright
SHICER - barren mine. Yiddish. Gold rush days
SHICER - a swindler or a crook (1946)
SHICKERED - drunk. Jewish origin
SHICKERY - shabby, bad, shaky, doubtful
SHINDIG - party
SHIRALEE- swag
SHIRT-FRONTING - confront an opponent eg football. Brought back in use by Tony Abbott - 'Look, I’m going to shirt-front Mr. Putin … You bet I am '
SHIRT OUT - (to have one's); to be angry
SHIRTY - irritated and annoyed
SHIT HAPPENS - dismissive of misfortune
SHITHOUSE - something that is bad
SHIVOO - a party
SHODDY DROPPER - a hawker of inferior clothing
SHOE-FLIER - thief who specialises in snatching handbags (criminal slang 1925)
SHOE-IN - certain to win, horseracing
SHONKY - of dubious quality
SHORTY - a tall person
SHOOTING STICK - rifle (soldier slang WW 1)
SHOOT STRAIGHT YOU BASTARDS. DON'T MAKE A MESS OF IT - reported to be the last words of Harry (Breaker) Morant as he faced the firing squad in South Africa in 1902 (Boer War)
SHOOT THROUGH – To leave
SHOOT THROUGH LIKE A BONDI TRAM - leave in haste
SHOTGUN - Claiming the front passenger seat (from stage coach days)
SHOUT - buy a drink for others in a pub
SHOUT OVER THE PITCHER - to brag bout one's shooting or hunting (Whitney 1870s)
SHOW - a chance, an opportunity, a turn. To have no show means to have not a chance
SHOW - party
SHOW PONY - person who shows off
SHOW THE ROPES - show how things are done
SHUT YOUR FACE - impolite way of saying stop talking
SHYPOO - a sly grog shop
SICK AS A DOG - very sick
SICKIE – or ‘pull a sickie’- take a day off when you aren’t actually sick
SILENT COP - yellow metal or concrete dome used at intersections
SILLY AS A TWO BOB WATCH - act silly
SILLY COOT - foolish man; simpleton; derived from bandicoot
SILLY GALLAH - foolish person
SILLY SAUSAGE - silly person
SILVER CITY - Broken Hill
SILVER BODGIE - Bob Hawke called this by the media because of his silver hair worn in the bodgie style
SILVERTAIL - bush term for a 'swell'; insult invoking the class divide. Used to describe someone who is privileged or socially prominent. Also a social climber
SIMPSON AND HIS DONKEYS - full name John Simpson Kirkpatrick. A hero digger at Gallipoli, who with his donkeys brought in the wounded in the first weeks of the Landing. He was killed by a Turkish bullet on 19th May 1915
SING OUT - let another know that assistance is required or that something is ready
SINK THE BOOT IN - attack someone who is down
SIT-DOWN MONEY - Welfare including unemployment benefits, especially welfare paid to indigenous people
SIT UP LIKE JACKEY - sit up straight
SIX BOB A DAY TOURISTS - in reference to daily wage for soldiers in WW1 of six shillings per day
SIX O'CLOCK SWILL - last-minute rush to buy drinks at a hotel bar before it closed at 6PM
SIX OF ONE, HALF DOZEN OF THE OTHER - whatever decision you make will not likely affect the outcome of the situation
SIXER OR EIGHTER - prisoner slang for six or eight ounce loaf (1884 Pentridge Gaol)
SIX-PEN'ORTH - prison slang for six months in gaol
SKEDADDLE - go away; leave
SKERRICK - the smallest bit; to have not a skerrick is to be broke
SKEWIFF - askew
SKINNED - to be on the look-out for the main chance
SKINNY AS A RAKE - looking too thin
SKINT - no money
SKIPPY THE BUSH KANGAROO - Children's TV program 1968 - 1970
SKIRTING - in sheep shearing the inferior parts of the wool taken from the extremities (Morris 1898)
SKITE - to boast; a show-off
SKITTLED - killed (soldier slang WW1)
SKOFF - to gobble up food (Whitney 1895)
SKOW-BANKER - a fellow who loiters about the premises of any one willing to support him, and who objects to the necessity of working for his living; a rogue, a rascal. Common in Melbourne. (Hotten 1874)
SKULL – To down a beer
SKULLBANKER or Scowbanker - a slang name in Australia for a loafer, a tramp (Morris 1898)
SKY PILOT - a parson
SKY THE RAG - give in; throw a towell into the air in token of surrender
SLAB – A carton of beers
SLACK - lazy
SLACKARSE - lazy
SLAG - promiscuous woman
SLAP UP - good
SLEDGE - to needle a player - on the cricket field etc
SLEEP OUT - verandah used as sleeping quarters esp. in Queenslander houses
SLEEPY LIZARD - blue tongued lizard
SLEPT LIKE A LOG - had a sound sleep
SLICE - one pound note (criminal slang 1950s)
SLICK - quick
SLIDE NIGHT - evening when family or friends gathered to watch projected slides and movies of holidays and other events - 1950s and 1960s
SLING - or corner - have a share in a haul (criminal slang 1950s)
SLING OFF AT - to jeer and mock another
SLING SHOT - catapult. Also called shanghai
SLING YOUR DADDLE - give me your hand; shake hands
SLIP SLOP SLAP - Cancer Council slogan
SLIPPERY AS AN EEL - sly character
SLITHER (to) - to hurry away
SLOSHED - drunk
SLOUCH HAT - first worn by military forces in Australia in 1885. Looped up on one side so that rifles could be held at the slope without damaging the brim
SLOW AS A WET WEEK - too slow
SLUDGE LAMPS - also SLUSH LAMPS; a crude lamp burning slush, tallow, or grease
SLUG UP - frame up
SLUGGOS - mens' brief tight swimming trunks - 'budgie smugglers'
SLUSHER - cook's assistant at shearing time on a station(Morris 1898)
SLUSHY - (nautical)- the cook. derived from slush, grease obtained from boiling salt pork
SLY GROG - illegal alcohol
SLY GROG SHANTY - place here liquor as sold without a license
SMART ALEC - someone who thinks they know everything
SMART ARSE - someone who thinks they know everything
SMASH - panicking cattle likely to be injured
SMASHED AVO - toast topped with mashed avocado served in cafes
SMASHER - owner of counterfeit coin (criminal slang 1925)
SMITHER - to maim or destroy. Bushranging term
SMOKE - slang for the 'push' or larrikin to get away as fast as possible from the scene of their crime (Morris 1898)
SMOKES LIKE A CHIMNEY - heavy smoker
SMOKO - morning/ afternoon tea break
SMOOGE - to cringe; to fawn. To curry favour at the expense of independence. Jewish origin
SMOOGER - one who fawns
SNAFFLE - take it up quickly; steal, grab or borrow
SNAG – Sausage
SNAGGER - a shearer who rushes, shearing a sheep roughly
SNAILEY - bullock with horn slightly curled (Morris 1898)
SNAKE GULLY - a country race course; imaginary country town from 1930s radio series Dad and Dave
SNAKE JUICE - strong drink (whiskey)
SNAKE-HEADED - quarrelsome in his cups
SNAKY - hostile, sly, angry comment or behaviour
SNAKE YARN - a tall tale
SNARLER - dishonorable discharge (Army 1945)
SNAVVLE / SNAFFLE - take by stealth, capture, steal
SNEEZE GRASS - In Cape York Peninsula when the Dingoes chase the kangaroos, the roos race across patches of sneeze grass which gives dingoes hay fever. While the dingoes stop to sneeze the roos escape
SNIDE - counterfeit coin (criminal slang 1925)
SNINNY - young girl
SNORKER - sausage (WW2)
SNORT - (to) to be enraged at something
SNOUT - tobacco (prison slang c. 1893)
SNOWED UNDER - having a lot of work to do
SNOWY BAKER - Reginald Leslie Baker, born in Sydney 1884. All round Australian sportsman. Won silver at the London Olmypics 1908
SNOWY MOUNTAINS SCHEME - hydro electricity and irrigation development begun in Ben Chiefley Government 1949
SNUFF - to die
SNUFFLEBUSTER - a term for Methodist (1896)
SOAK-HOLE - an enclosd place in a stream in which sheep are washed (Morris 1898)
SO HUNGRY COULD EAT A HORSE AND CHASE THE RIDER - Very hungry
SO HUNGRY COULD EAT THE ARSE OUT OF A LOW-FLYING DUCK - Very hungry
SOLAR PLEXUS - William Lawless, Australian Boxing doyen and supporter of boxer Les Darcy
SOLDIER - to make temporary use of another man's horse, thus a man wanting to mount catches the first one he can, rides it to his destination and then lets it go (Whitney 1870s)
SOLLICKER - something excessive (Franklin)
SO LONG - signifying good-bye
SONG AND DANCE - make a noise or fuss about something
SOOK - coward or timid person
SOOKY LA LA - Someone who whinges about things in a childish way
SOOL - to incite; time for a player or jockey or boxer to put forth his utmost effort to win
SOS - Member of the Signal Corp (military)
SOUTHERLY BUSTER - cool wind change after a hot day. NSW
SOUTHERN CROSS - the constellation of the Southern Cross is regarded as the astronomical emblem of Australia eg 'beneath the Southern Cross'
SOUTHERN CROSS FLAG - Has a dark blue field with a central white symmetric cross consisting five eight-pointed stars, representing the Crux constellation. The design was first used in the Eureka Rebellion of 1854.
SO WINDY IT WILL BLOW A DROVER'S DOG OFF THE CHAIN - very windy
SOZZLED - drunk
SPADE-PRESS - a make shift wool press in which the fleeces are rammed down with a spade (Morris 1898)
SPAG BOG - spaghetti bolognaise
SPARKIE - electrician
SPARK WELL - be in good health (1918)
S.P. BOOKIE - Starting price bookmaker - one who receive bets at fixed odds or starting price away from the race track
SPECK (THE) - mainland term for Tasmania
SPEEDO - speedometer on car
SPEEDOS - swimmers developed in 1928
SPELL - a period of rest from duty
SPEND A PENNY - go to the toilet - (female)
SPEWIN' - angry; disappointed
SPIDER - a glass of lemonade with a scoop of ice cream added
SPIFLICATE - hurt or punish someone
SPILL - deliberately create a vacancy in cabinet or political party
SPILL YOUR GUTS - tell all
SPIN - or full hand - sentence of five years in jail (criminal slang)
SPIN A YARN - tell a tall story
SPIN OR SPINNAKER - a five pound note
SPINNER - 50 pounds
SPINNER (COME IN) - shout in the game of two-up; also the title of a famous novel set in Sydney in the 1940s
SPIT THE DUMMY - tantrum
SPITTING CHIPS - angry, frustrated
SPLAYD - eating utensil that combines a spoon, fork and knife in one, invented in Sydney by William McArthur 1940's
SPLIT - detective (criminal slang 1925)
SPLITTER - a wood-cutter, cutting timber in the bush and splitting it into posts and rails(Morris 1898)
SPONGER - a bludger
SPORT - slightly agressive term for someone disliked
SPOT - 100 pound note (criminal slang 1950s)
SPOT ON - exact, true
SPRAG - accost truculently, usually a prelude to a stoush, that is a bout with fists
SPRAT - sentenced to six months in jail; also a sixpenny piece
SPREAD - food on table
SPRING HEEL - a man who on joining a fighting unit immediately finds a means of leaving it (WW1)
SPRING THE PLANT - to spring the plant was to discover a bushranger's plant or recover articles from the plant
SPROG - one of inferior rank (WW2)
SPROGG - offspring
SPRUCE - to exaggerage or pull the leg (criminal slang 1925)
SPRUIK - deliver a long harangue about nothing in particular
SPUD - potato
SPUD BARBER - man on kitchen fatigue (soldier slang WW2)
SPUNK - sexually attractive person
SPUNKRAT - sexually attractive person of opposite sex usually male
SPUNKY - full of spirit
SPRUIKER - a persuasive talker
SQUARE-HEAD - also cleanskin. A new crook who has had no previous convictions (criminal slang Sydney 1950)
SQUARE UP - settle accounts
SQUATTER - person who occupies uninhabited land or building to which they had no title, as sheep runs in 1820s - 1840s and established themselves as 'the squattocracy'
SQUATTOCRACY - a play on aristocracy, referred to squatters and the social and political power they wielded
SQUEALERS - Provost Corps (military)
SQUIZ - have a look
STACK - car crash
STACK HAT - also crash hat - bicycle helmet
STAGER - one who fakes an injury or shows off (from Australian Rules football)
STAND A HAND - shout a drink c. 1892
STANDOVER MAN - extortionist
STAR HOTEL RIOTS - The Star Hotel riot, caused by the closure of the popular Star Hotel, was one of the largest riots in Australian history. It occurred on the night of 19 September 1979
STARKERS- naked
STATION - large ranch
STATION-JACK - a form of bush cookery using salt beef and flour (Morris 1898)
STEADY ON - slow down
STEAMER - kangaroo tail stew (1945)
STEEL CITY - The BHP Newcastle steelworks opened in 1915 and during the years of World War 1 the steelworks became an important supplier of steel for ships and other armaments. Until the steelworks closed in 1999, Newcastle was known as steel city
STEP THE GUTTER - pass the butter (soldier slang WW1)
STEW - a framed case (Army 1945)
STICK AROUND - wait around
STICK BY - support a person
STICK OF WEED - gaol term; an ounce of tobacco used in gambling
STICK OUT LIKE A SHAG ON A ROCK - stand out; lonely
STICKY BEAK - nosy person
STIFF - letter to inmate from a recently discharged prisoner announcing his intention of planting a swag near the prison (c. 1893)
STIFF - too bad!
STIFF AS A CRUTCH - rigid posture
STILL KICKING - still alive
STINGER - jellyfish
STINKER - very hot day
STINKING HOT - unbearable heat
STIR THE POSSUM - excite interest; liven things up; create mischief to get a reaction
STOCKYARD - enclosed area for cattle
STOCKROUTE - a right of way through the land of a squatter which must be unobstructed for the use of cattle or sheep to pass through
STOCK WHIP - whip made of a long, tapered length of flexible, plaited leather with a stiff handle for mustering cattle
STOCK RIDER - a man employd to look after cattle on an unfenced station
STOCK STATION - ranch or stock farm
STOKED – Happy, Pleased
STOLEN GENERATIONS - this emotive phrase refers to aboriginal children taken from their families. It was first coined by Peter Read, Professor of History at the Australian National University dated 1981
STONE MOTHERLESS - totally, absolutely (last); used to describe the performance of the horse you had your money on; also Stone Motherless broke
STONE THE CROWS - expression of amazement
STONEY BROKE - having no money
STONKER - exterminate, kill, strike out
STONKERED - dead; (see this 1919 article)
STONKERED - very drunk or knocked out
STOOK - handkerchief (prison slang c 1893)
STOOP - petty thief (criminal slang 1940)
STOP FAFFING AROUND - don't waste time
STOP MUCKING AROUND - stop wasting time
STOP ONE - to receive a blow. (Digger Smith C.J. Dennis)
STOP WORRYING, NOBODY GETS OUT OF THIS WORLD ALIVE - Clive James
STORE CATTLE - lean cattle bought for fattening by squatters who found that they had more grass than the natural increase of their herd required (Whitney 1870s)
STORM STICK - umbrella
STOUSH - to punch with a fist; fight
STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN - honest person
STRAIGHT TO THE POOL ROOM - something highly valued. From movie The Castle
STRAPPED FOR CASH - short of money
STRAW BAIL - inadequate or non existant bail (criminal slang 1950s)
STRAW HAT PUSH - larrikin gang prevalent in Sydney 1870s - 1890s
STRAYA – Australia
STRETCH - name for a tall person
STRETCH - prison term for a year in gaol c. 1893
STRETCH IN THE JUG - imprisonment c. 1898
STREWTH - God's truth - mild oath expressing surprise
STRIDES - trousers
STRIFE - trouble
STRIKE A LIGHT exclamation of disappointment
STRIKE ME DEAD - exclamation of frustration
STRIKE ME PINK - expression of shock or surprise
STRIKE ME LUCKY - expression of astonishment - attributed to Roy Rene ('Mo' of theatre partnership Stiffy and Mo)
STRINE - Australian Slang
STRINGERS - gold digger slang - now and then a good payable prospect which induces men to raise a paddock of dirt when washed has little value
STRINGY-BARK - One of a class of Australasian gum trees distinguished by a tenacious fibrous bark. Used often for fences (Whitney 1895)
STRINGYBARK - sundowner, tramp, dry hash
STRINGY-BARKER - small farmer
STRINGYBARK COCKATOO - a poor farmer
STUBBIES - men's shorts 1970's
STUBBY – a bottle of beer
STUBBY HOLDER – polystyrene insulated holder to keep beer cold
STUFFED – Tired
STUFF IT - exclamation of defeat
STUFF UP - blunder, failure
STUMPED - confused
STUMP JUMP PLOUGH - Invented by Richard and Clarence Bowyer Smith 1876. Allowed the plough to jump over stumps so the undercarriage was not damaged. More Australian Inventions
STUMP ORATOR - or On the Stump. A politician who will speak from any available soapbox about any issue that comes up. Also used in America and UK
STUNNED MULLET (face like a,)- shocked look
SUCH IS LIFE - expression or resignation to life's misfortunes
SUCKED IN - tricked
SUCK UP TO - ingratiate oneself
SUGAR BABY - Militia man. No overseas service. c. 1940s
SUGAR BAG - prison warden who is too easy going with his men (c 1893)
SUGAR BAG - a nest of honey; stores of the wild bee
SUMMER OF SORROW - referring to January 2011 floods and cyclones in Queensland
SUNBURNT COUNTRY - from Dorothea Mackellar's poem 'My Country'
SUNDOWNER - itinerant worker/ swagman who often appeared at stations at sunset in search of work; also stringybark or dry hash (1887)
SUNDY- Sunday
SUNNIES– Sunglasses
SUPER AND SLANG - watch and chain
SUPERINTENDENT - manager of a cattle station or sheep run
SUPPLEJACKS - creepers, lianas
SURFER'S - shorter version of Surfer's Paradise on the Gold Coast
SUSS - Suspicious
SUSS IT OUT - to figure out a tricky situation
SUSSO - the susso referred to sustenance (welfare) payments, especially during the Great Depression
SWAG - bundle consisting of large blanket rolled up with belongings and worn as a roll passing over the right shoulder under the left arm, the luggage of a man who humps it; also drum (1887)
SWAG – Single bed you can roll up, a bit like a sleeping bag.
SWAG - bushranger term - loot, plunder
SWAGGER - same as swagman (Whitney 1895)
SWAGGIE - swagman
SWAGMAN - a man who travelled the roads in search of employment, so called because he carried his swag
SWAMPED BY ASIANS - term used by Paul Hanson in maiden speech to parliament
SWEAT, DUST AND BEER..THERE'S NOTHING ELSE OUT HERE MATE! - quote from Ted Kotcheff's 1971 film Wake in Fright
SWEATER - horse thief
SWEET - very good; satisfactory
SWEET AS - awesome
SWEET BUGGER ALL - nothing
SWIG - drink
SWINGING THE LEAD - evading service; malingering (soldier slang WW1)
SWINJER - something excellent
SWING THE BANJO - to dig (soldier slang WW1)
SWIZZLE - drink
SWY - the game of twoup
SWY - two shillings (criminal slang 1950s)
SYDNEY DUCKS - also Sydney Coves. Thugs, scoundrels, thieves, ex convicts etc who headed to San Francisco during the 1849 Gold Rush where they set up nefarious grog shops and lodging houses. They wore duck trousers with cabbage tree hats. Duck was a cheap hard-wearing canvas fabric used for clothing in Australia
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE - performing arts complex on situated at Benelong Point, Sydney Harbour
SYDNEY OR THE BUSH - All or nothing. In two-up to risk all on the toss of a coin
SYDNEY PUSH - The Sydney Push was a predominantly left-wing pseudo-intellectual subculture flourished in Sydney from the late 1940s to the early 1970s
SYDNEY-SIDER - one who hails from Sydney
SYDNEY-SIDER - a convict (Whitney 1870s)
SYDNEY TO HOBART YACHT RACE - held on Boxing Day. Starts in Sydney and finishes in Hobart
↑