B

Back of beyond : Faraway place e.g. middle of Australia. See also Never Never
2. An idiom used by an individual when they are uncertain of the exact location of either a place or town
3. See also Beyond the black stump
Back of Bourke : An uncertain outlying area beyond the outback town of Bourke in the state of New South Wales. See also Whoop Whoop
Back to front : Inside out, Backwards, wrong way
Backside : See Bum
Bad Egg : A trickster, a con man, a person of dishonest character, someone of little or no feeling for another fellow human being
Bad trot : Spoken in regards to a person having a succession of failures
Bag Of Fruit : A statement given to someone (usually a man’s suit) who is well dressed. e.g. “That’s a nice bag of fruit you’re wearing mate!”
Bag of worms : Constant activity or movement. e.g. “Sit still, you keep moving around like a bag of worms.”
2. Distasteful, repulsive, disgusting. e.g. “Forget it! I don’t want to hear it, you mind works like a bag of worms”
Baked dinner : A favourite Australian roast meal, baked lamb and vegetables
Bald as a Bandicoot : Unquestionably Bald. A term derived from the Aussie Marsupial. e.g. “the poor old bastard he is almost bald as a bandicoot”
Ball of muscle : A term of liveliness. e.g. “Look at that old sheila, will you! She’s still a ball of muscle!”
Banana Bender : A term given to a person who lives in the state of QLD
Banger : Aussie sausage. e.g. “Do you want to put some extra bangers on the Barbie mate?”
Bar of : Disgusted or offended. Not wanting to have anything to do with a person. e.g. “Listen hear sport, for your information, I wouldn’t have a bar of you!”
Barbie : Short for Australian Barbecue
Barrack : To scoff or leer at an opposing team or competitor
Barracking for : To support or cheer for a particular team or sports club. e.g. “Who’s Dave barracking for? The Sea Eagles, of course! Well, I think the mighty Canterbury Bulldogs will end up winning the Grand Final this season”
Bash : Having an attempt at something. e.g. “Go on Luke have a bash at it, you can do it!”
Bashed : Clobber, Strike, Hit. e.g. “Did you hear about the old digger, mate? Yeah, the poor bugger! I’d like to get me hands on the mongrel who bashed him about the head with a cricket bat!”
Bastard : Not the offensive word known and used by Americans, this colourful word has a variety of meanings in Australia, that expresses both good and bad feelings. The term thus requires a complete understanding of how it is to be used and spoken, prior to conversational use. For example: (Personal feelings for others)
Fondness : “How are you, you old bastard”
Sorrow : “you poor bastard”
Stingy : “you miserable bastard”
Resourceful : “you smart bastard”
Oneself : “I’m a bit of a bastard”
Battler : A person who struggles to make a livelihood. Pronounced “batt-la”
Bathers : Swimwear. Swimsuit. See also Cossie and togs
Beetroot : Beet. A popular (vegetable) addition to most Australian meals
Beaut : Great, fantastic, agreeable. e.g. “I did end up buying the car. That’s beaut mate!”
Beyond the black stump : An exceedingly distant vicinity
Bible Basher : A person with strong religious convictions
Bickie : Biscuit, cracker or cookie
Bickies : Legal Tender, a large amount of money. e.g. “He is making big bickies, he just bought a $100,000 yacht”
Big Red : The great Australian kangaroo measuring up to two metres (plus) in height with an ability to leap up to 4.5 metre high fences. An enormous threat to property owners for their destructive ability. See also Wallaroo
Big Note : An embellished voice of self importance or esteem. e.g. “Choof off mate will you, I’m sick of hearing you big note yourself”
Big Smoke : A large City or Major Township
Bike : See Town bike
Billy : A tin can for brewing tea over an open fireplace
Billy can : As above.
Billy cart : A small child’s play cart made from an old wooden fruit box incorporating wheels (usually) from a discarded baby stroller
Billabong : An opening or water hole located mainly in a dry riverbed
Bit of a dry argument : A common phrase used by beer drinkers to indicate that it is the other person’s turn to buy a round of drinks
Bit of A Worry : Disrupting, covers a very broad spectrum! e.g. “Did you hear the war has flared up in the middle-east again?” “Yeah, it’s a bit of a worry, alright”
Bird : A female in general. e.g. “Did you see Dave's girlfriend? Boy! She’s a good looking bird”
Bizzo : Business
Black Stump : A term used to illustrate a great distance. See also See also Whoop Whoop
Black Fellow : An impolite idiom for an Australian Aborigine
Blind Freddy : A fictitious person not easily fooled. e.g. “You couldn’t even fool blind Freddy with that story”
Block : A piece or parcel of land. e.g. “That’s a nice block of land, you made a good choice” 2. Persons head. e.g. “If you keep it up, I’ll knock your block off!” 3. See Lose one’s block
Blocky : A word, to cover the distance of an entire block. e.g. “You silly galah, you missed the turn and now you’ll have to do a blocky!”
Block of Flats : An apartment or condominium complex
Bloke : Men in general. e.g. “Old Eric is not a bad bloke, he is a good friend of mine.” See also Mate
Bloody : Australia’s most prominent and frequently spoken adjective 2. An expression of agreement or praise. e.g. “Bloody good job, I’ll make sure you get that raise, you deserve it!” 3. Or conversely an expression of anger, annoyance or even of a stronger application. e.g. “Those bloody kids, stealing my watermelons again, I’ll tan their hides if I catch them!”
Bloody Oath : A strong declaration of complete agreement, absolutely correct or unquestionable. e.g. “Do you think our team will win today? Bloody oath they will”
2. See also My Bloody Oath
Bloody Hell : Displeased, unhappy, discontent. Not considered a swearword. e.g. Bloody hell, the damn taps leaking again”
Blotto : As drunks as a skunk. Totally inebriated
Bottle Shop : A drive through bottle mart. Liquor shop
Blowie : A large annoying fly, similar in appearance to a fruit fly. Also called “blowfly”
Blow in : A stranger who arrives on the scene abruptly. See also lob in
Bludge : Loiter, vegetate, scrounge
Bludger : A person who constantly intrudes on other peoples good nature and hospitality. Also a person who has a tendency towards laziness
Blue : A mistake or error. e.g. “You made a real blue getting friendly with that bunch of characters!” 2. Quarrel, dispute, tiff. e.g. “I’d leave him alone mate if I was you, he just had a blue with his missus”
Blue Bottles : Small but poisonous blue coloured, jelly like fish that invade Australian waters during the summer months. Its bite produces a painful sting
Blue ringed octopus : A tiny but deadly octopus that exhibits a blue ring around it’s body and administers a fatal bite if disturbed. Found in small rock pools by the sea throughout Australia
Bluey : A nickname applied to red haired individuals. 2. A parking or traffic fine
Blue Tongue : A hardy lizard indigenous to Australia that possesses a long blue tongue and grows up to 600mm in length. See also Goanna
Bob : A nickname given to a one shilling coin (old Australian Pounds, Shilling and Pence) worth twelve pennies. 2. Outdated Australian currency of little value. e.g. “No, I don’t won’t it, keep it yourself, it’s not worth two bob”
Bobby Dazzler : Terrific, excellent, extra special
Bodgie : Low-grade, substandard, poor. e.g. “Listen sport, there’s no way I’m paying you, that’s a real bodgie repair job you did to my car”
2. A Hoodlum or roughneck. See also Mug Lair
Bombora : A perilous wave that rises suddenly over a reef or submerged rocks, and without warning collapses with great force
Bondi : A famous Australian surf beach. Also used in connection with an old Australian saying, “to shoot through like a Bondi tram”
Bondi Icebergs : A group of hardy individuals (a large number being of the older generation) who brave the freezing cold waters at Bondi beach during winter months. In addition to the already cold water they often have blocks of ice placed in the swimming pool to further decrease the temperature
Bonnet : The hood of a truck or car
Bonzer : Excellent, wonderful, superb. e.g. “That’s a bonzer notion of yours mate, I might just give that some serious thought”
Bo Peep : See Sneak Peek and Sticky
Boil the billy : Put the kettle on, usually in reference to making a cup of tea
Boot : The trunk of a car
Boofhead : A dimwit or fool. A person who shows all the antics of a clown
Booked : Issued a speeding fine. e.g. “Did you hear, Susan was booked twice in the same week”
Boss Cocky : Head, leader, manager. e.g. “I’m sick of you telling me what to do, you think you're Boss Cocky!”
Boots and all : Wholehearted, entirely, completely. e.g. “Dave wasn’t kidding about writing a book, he went into it boots and all”
Bottom of the harbour : A terminology used to indicate elaborate schemes to evade Australian taxation
Bottler : Wonderful, genuine, exceptional. e.g. “Ok I’ll buy it, it’s a bottler alright!”
Bowser : A gas (petrol) pump
Bower Bird : A small native Australian bird that has an obsession to collect numerous odd type objects
Boozer : A public bar. Drink establishment. 2. A person who displays a great relish for the Amber Nectar and makes it a habit to visit the establishment by the same name
Brass Razoo : Something of no value, completely and utterly worthless. e.g. “Tony tried to sell me his old car. You don’t say, it’s a wreck, and I wouldn’t give him a brass razoo for it!”
Brekkie : Breakfast. Pronounced “Brekkie”
Brizzie : Brisbane Queensland. Pronounced “Brizzie”
Bream : A popular and reasonably priced fish, due to its abundance in Australian waters. Pronounced “Brim”
Bring a plate : A traditional Australian custom for a person to bring a plate of food to assist the host or hostess
Broke : Down and out, destitute. e.g. “Poor old fellow, he’s broke, lets all chuck-in and give him a few bob each”
Brolly : Umbrella. The word or term “brolly” is used mainly by older age people
Bronze Aussie : An Australian male who possesses good health, a good physique, a love for the outdoors and a charm for the ladies. 2. What most Aussie men would like to be or what they would like you to think they are
Brown Bomber : Police that issue parking fines only. See also Grey Ghost
Brownie : A variety of Australian cake. Originating from early colonial days and referred to as “Bush Brownies”
Brumby : A wild Australian horse
Bubby : A baby, usually spoken in reference to a new born baby
Bucks night : A bachelor party. Often this night is put together by his best mates and will be looked upon hesitantly by the groom to be. For Example: The night usually starts out calm enough with a certain amount of decorum, a fine meal, and as much alcohol as the groom wishes to consume; after all, his best mates are picking up the tab for this night. By the end of the evening however, the man of the hour may find himself chained to a suburban street light pole, or even handcuffed naked to the seat of an interstate train whose first stop is hundreds of kilometres away
Buckley’s chance : Little hope or chance at all. e.g. “Boy, you’re only giving me two chances, mine and buckley’s”
Bugger : Another colourful word of the Australian dialect meaning difficult, strenuous, irritating. e.g. “That last job, you assigned me was a real bugger”
Buggery : A fictitious place. 2. Impolite way to tell someone to go away or leave. e.g. “Go to buggery”
Buggerise : Messing around, playing the fool. e.g. “If I’ve told you before, please don’t buggerise around”
Buggered : No clue or idea. e.g. “Where’s the key to the car? I'm buggered if I know!” 2. Tired, exhausted, weary. e.g. “Boy I really feel buggered!”
Bull Ant : A large (up to 25mm long) black ant with a painful bite. See also Jumping Bull Joe
Bull Bar : Solid welded steel or aluminium bars attached to the front end of a truck or car. Shaped in the form of a grill to prevent or reduce Damage caused from large animals such as kangaroos and cattle
Bull Dust : A fine orange coloured dust found in the outback. During rain it can make vehicle travel almost impossible as it mixes with the water forming a clay compound that compacts under your wheel arches to the point where your wheels can no longer rotate. 2. Poppycock! Nonsense! Absurd! e.g. “Surely you don’t think I’m that stupid as to believe it's nothing but a whole lot of bull dust!”
Bull larky : Misleading, incorrect, deluding. e.g. “I can’t beieve it, it’s the biggest load of bull larky I’ve ever heard”
Bullamakanka : An imaginary place in the outback. See also Whoop Whoop
Bull's Roar : Bull's Roar - too, not to
Bum : Butt, one’s behind. Also referred to as “Backside”
Bumper : Worthless. e.g. “I wouldn’t buy you old bomb car mate, it’s not worth a bumper.” See also Brass razoo
Bunch : A crowd, a large gathering. See also Mob
Bung : Broken. e.g. “Mum, the toaster is on the bung again. 2. Pretend, fake, make believe. e.g. “Mum I really feel crook today. David, I’ve told you before, not to bung on an act, you going to school whether you like it or not!”
Bunger : A large firecracker about the size of a stick of dynamite, and in most states of Australia is now illegal
Bung-eye : An eye affliction, ailment or malady. 2. An impolite word directed towards others who may suffer from or have permanent disorders in this regard
Burl : Endeavour, strive, attempt. Exert your best effort. e.g. “Go on Perry get into the race, give it a burl, you can do it.” See also Bash
Buster : A strong, southerly, gale force, wind that creates havoc to marine vessels and any person caught in one
Bush : Any area away from city limits and local suburbs. Hence to “Go Bush” is to get away from populated areas and city life
Bush Brownies : See Bickie
Bush Baptist : A person who manifests little or no religious faith
Bush Carpenter : A rough and ready handyman or a self proclaimed carpenter. Usually without having a license or a formal apprenticeship
Bush Lawyer : An attorney of dubious character, qualifications or ability. e.g. “Did you hear Garry lost the court case?” Yes i did, poor bugger he must have got a bush lawyer”
Bush Locust : A destructive winged insect. Australian farmers dreaded foe to their outback crops. Although some seasons are better than others, travellers unfortunate enough to experience a Bush Locust swarm first notice the sky in the distance blacken, only to find themselves in the midst of locust so thick, it may be necessary to use vehicle headlights and wipers on high speed just to get through it
Bush Ranger : An intrepid Highwayman. 2. Modern reference: A trickster, conman or thief. A person who flagrantly secures unjust gain or profit from others
Bush walk : A trail or path in the bush. 2. A lengthy excursion through the bush, undertaken by a single person or a group of individuals
Bushwalker : A person who enjoys hiking through bushland
Bushwhacker : A person who prefers to live in the bush. 2. A weird or odd person with a strange character
Bush wire : A telephone party line between outback properties
Bushy : A person who spends a lot of their time in the bush
Butcher shop : A meat market
By Crikey : An emphatic exclamation of determination. See also Crikey
BYO : Bring your own. An Australian custom, to bring your own liquor to a restaurant that possesses no liquor license. This procedure is acceptable and encouraged by the restaurant owner or management. e.g. “I’ll meet you at the restaurant, and don’t forget its BYO”

Browse Words By Alphabet
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