People at home seem to be very interested in the little differences here. And people here, when they're not poorly imitating my Canadian accent, seem interested in the same. Here's a list....
IN AUSTRALIA = in canada
DODGY = a generally bad word, the closest approximation in my vocabulary is "skeevy"
BOGAN = redneck or hoser
UNI = university (apparently australians can't be bothered to say the whole word sometimes. oh, and they say "can't be bothered" a lot too.)
ASHUME = assume (they don't spell it like that, but they pronounce it that way)
BUCKLEY'S CHANCE = very small chance (as in "you haven't got buckley's chance of climbing over mount defiance") (there's a story behind that.)
CHEMIST = pharmacy
OP SHOPS = thrift stores
MILK BAR = grocery or corner store
NEWSAGENT = newstand or magazine store (that's the closest approximation i could come up with, but i don't really think we have a name quite as specific as theirs.)
HIRE = rent (as in "we can't hire any videos because we have too many late fees")
STUFF = a word like screw or fuck but only in a context such as "oh don't worry, that impossible chord progression will come to you when you're just stuffing around", not a sexual context.
CRACKED IT = lost it (would be the closest thing, as in "when vegemite was sold to an american company, half the australians cracked it)
NICK = steal (or for simpsons enthusiasts, yoink)
BUM BAGS = fanny pack (this one is especially amusing to the australians i'm staying with as fanny is apparently a semi-polite word for vagina here.)
LIGHT SWITCHES DOWN FOR ON = up for on
DRIVING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STREET = on the right side
OVERTAKING = passing (as in Keep To Left Except When Overtaking)
WINDSCREEN = wind shield
UT (UTILITY VEHICLE) = cruck (half car, half truck...well maybe that's just what i call it) (as the story goes, someone told the ford company in geelong that he wanted a vehicle suitable for taking his wife to church and the sheep to the market; the truck being not quite civilized enough for church and the car "not suitable for taking sheep anywhere", says Cooky, the tour guide.)
CARAVAN = camper or trailer
MOZZIES (sp?) = mosquitos
CHIPS = fries
TOMATO SAUCE = ketchup (and it's not quite the same taste, but probably just as bad for me)
HUNGRY JACK'S = Burger King (same restaurant, different name. although i imagine they say "it just tastes better" in an australian accent here.)
TEA = supper, the meal that comes in the evening (although they do call the drink tea as well. it confused me for days.)
TAKE AWAY = take out
LOLLIES = candies
SULTANA = raisin (as in "there are too many sultanas in my sultana bran")
FILM CLIP = music video
RING = call or phone
MOBILE PHONE = cell phone
TORCH = flashlight
LOUNGE ROOM = living room
PRIMARY SCHOOL = elementary school
YEAR = grade (as in "i haven't seen most of these people since year 12")
CBD (CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT) = i don't know what we call that, but i'd never heard it before
TRAM = a train, a method of public transit (we don't have them in Saskatoon)
FOOT PATHS = sidewalks
PADDOCK = field
GARBAGE BINS = garbage cans
JUMPER = sweater
NAPPIES = diapers
BATHERS = bathing suit
SUN BAKING = sun tanning or sun bathing
LIFESAVER = lifeguard
WASHING = laundry (as in "i took the washing down from the line.")
i'll add more as they present themselves....
to australian tour diary
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