Chapter 1
The wild history of Strine
Chapter 2
Decoding the daily lingo
Chapter 3
Slang of the outback and bush
Chapter 4
Aussie slang on the global stage
Ch 3 · Slang of the outback and bush
matilda Australian slang uses the mythical black stump and the real New South Wales town of Bourke to describe incredibly remote places
matilda Iconic phrases like true blue reveal how unique language shapes Australian cultural identity
Quiz
During which historical Australian decade did the phrase 'fair dinkum' surge in popularity?
Fun Fact
The black stump: Several Australian towns, including Coolah and Blackall, claim to have the original, physical 'black stump' that inspired the famous outback idiom.
Glossary
swagman (noun)
An itinerant traveler or laborer who carries a bedroll while searching for work. Banjo Paterson immortalized this iconic figure in his famous 1895 Australian bush ballad, Waltzing Matilda.
An itinerant traveler or laborer who carries a bedroll while searching for work. Banjo Paterson immortalized this iconic figure in his famous 1895 Australian bush ballad, Waltzing Matilda.