![]() As that city is also filled with politicians who run, or do not run, this country, I can think of several other names that would be far more applicable. South Wales and southern Queensland), and designates a small green and yellow parrot which has become a popular caged bird. Finally, those from Canberra, the site of our nation's capital city, are known as "Roundabout-abouters" (because the city is full of those confusing traffic devices). Cornelius Crowe, in his Australian Slang Dictionary (1895), defines a bludger as a thief who will use his bludgeon and lives on the gains of immoral women. People from Western Australia are referred to as "Sandgropers" (there are huge deserts and beachers over there). Folk from the Northern Territory are either called "Top Enders" (for obvious reasons) or, far less flatteringly, "Alcoholics" or "Crocbait" (you can imagine why, I'm sure). South Australians are known as "Crow-eaters" (not because they eat them but because a magpie is on that state's coat of arms). It also adds that the Virgin Mary could be described in those days as 'the blissful bird of grace.' The modern use appears to be something of a revival. Tasmanians are "Apples Islanders" (they grow a lot) or "Barracoutas" (which they apparently once consumed in large quantities when they were starving). Oxford dictionary of Word Origins says that the British slang use of bird to mean a young woman is associated with 1960s and 1970s but as you mentioned also, it dates back to Middle Ages. ![]() Victorians are called "Cabbage Patchers" (because it's one of the smaller states) or "Gum Suckers" (because they were once known for chewing gum tree resin) or "Mexicans" by both Queensland and New South Wales residents (because they're south of the border). Those from New South Wales are referred to as Cockroaches, usually by Queenslanders (because they apparently have more of them than all the cane toads or bananas put together in Queensland). Both these names are used by people from New South Wales because of the ongoing rivalry between the two states - usually over football. Queenslanders are "Banana Benders" (they grow a lot of bananas up in the north of that state) or "Cane Toads" (ditto). I don't see the connection myself, but that doesn't matter.Īustralians have weird names such as these for the residents of each different state in the country. That is one of the reasons Australian Rules Football has been given its mocking nickname by fans of the other football leagues in this country. That is when an umpire (usually) bounces the ball so hard into the ground that it bounces high into air and the first player to leap up after it, like a salmon after a fly, gains possession of same. The thing that distinguishes Aussie Rules from other football leagues is the ball-up. They're not allowed to just hang onto it and gallop up the length of the field. Players are allowed to kick, hand pass to another player (which means hitting it with a closed fist as it is balanced on the other hand), or run with the ball, but, when doing the latter, either have to bounce it or touch it on the ground as they run towards the goal posts. Australian Rules football, about which I know nothing, consists of two teams of eighteen players each endeavouring to score the most points by the conclusion of a game.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |