International Lingo

23 (Australian) expressions you’ll never hear an American say

“I’M totally run off my feet!”

“Wait, where are you running to?” Never mind.

I’ve been living in the United States for just over seven months now, and while an American could pick me as an Australian as soon as they hear me introduce myself (note ‘Cha-lotte’, not ‘Charr-let’), there are some beloved Aussie expressions I’ve reluctantly had to cut loose.

It all began during my first week in the New York office, when I casually told my new colleagues to “have a nice arvo” before heading out the door. The lengthy silence that followed grew awkward blank stares, concerned expressions, I could see the cogs ticking over.

Eventually one woman pipes up, “what’s an ar-vo?”

This was the first of so many confusing situations I found myself in after dropping a token Aussie phrase into a sentence when surrounded by American mates (sorry, I mean buddies.)

I soon realised that our impressive ability to shorten pretty much anything — greetings, everyday remarks, even nicknames get nicknames — doesn’t necessarily translate overseas.

Classics like “thongs”, “trackies”, “cozzies” and “sunnies” were the first to go, while other unique one-liners were a little slower to be eliminated. Some, I learned the hard way.

Here are 23 Aussie phrases that Americans don’t really understand:

1) “How are you going?”

Translation: How are you?

Reaction: Um, I’m not going anywhere ...

2) “I’m snowed under”

Translation: I have a lot of sh*t to do, OK?

Reaction: What exactly are you under?

3) “Have a nice arvo”

Translation: Have a nice afternoon.

Reaction: What the hell is an ar-vo?

4) “It’s midday”

Translation: It’s 12pm.

Reaction: You mean noon?

5) “I’m having vege on toast for brekkie”

Translation: I’m having vegemite on toast for breakfast. Obviously.

Reaction: Vegetables? On Toast? For WHAT?

6) “Anyone want a bevvy?”

Translation: Would anyone like a beverage? (usually the alcoholic variety. NB: The answer is rarely ‘no’)

Reaction: I might, if I knew what you were offering.

7) “It’s like 37 degrees out there!”

Translation: It’s like 93 degrees out there.

Reaction: Ha! Oh yeah, you guys use celsius down there.

8) “Coriander”

Translation: Cilantro

Reaction: I don’t think we sell that variety here.

9) “Uni”

Translation: University

Reaction: Erm, college?

10) “My shout!”

Translation: I’ve got this round/I’ve got the bill

Reaction: What are you shouting about?

11) “I’ll fix you up”

Translation: I’ll pay you back.

Reaction: On a date? With drugs? What am I getting myself into here?

12) “I’m chockers!”

Translation: I’m super full, don’t let me eat another bite, no I mean it, take my plate away!

Reaction: Room for chocolate? Game of checkers?

13) “I reckon”

Translation: I think/ I believe.

Reaction: **tumbleweed

14) “Where’s a servo?”

Translation: Where’s the nearest petrol station?

Reaction: A deli? A corner store? A drugstore?

15) “No dramas/no worries!”

Translation: You’re welcome.

Reaction: I’m not worried.

16) “Heaps!”

Translation: A lot of something.

Reaction: Loads?

17) “Smoking a durrie”

Translation: Smoking a cigarette.

Reaction: Smoking WHAT? Is it legal?

18) “He/she was blind!”

Translation: More than a little intoxicated.

Reaction: Didn’t look blind to me.

19) “Ta”

Translation: Thank you.

Reaction: Pretty sure that sound you just made was NOT English.

20) “Righto”

Translation: Alright then, yes OK.

Reaction: Huh?

21) “I’m only mucking around”

Translation: I’m joking.

Reaction: Some kind of joke?

22) “I’m taking the p*ss”

Translation: I’m mocking you.

Reaction: You’re taking a p*ss?

23) “I’ll suss it out”

Translation: I’ll figure out what’s going on and report back.

Reaction: Stop talking.