When the weather is cold and dreary, it’s nice to dream of warmer climates, coconuts and sandcastles. If only you could teleport to a place like… Australia! If you’re feeling down under huge piles of work and grey skies, with no leave left to use, fear not! There is a way you can go Down Under without even leaving the office. Try swapping mundane recruiter speak and business buzzwords for some true blue Aussie slang. Banish phrases like ‘reaching out’ and ‘catching up’, and ‘touch base’ with your inner Aussie instead. To get started, read up on these 22 sayings from the faraway land of spiders, ciders and horseback riders:
1. How’re you going?
This is a favourite among Australians. It’s a creative take on the slightly boring, “how are you?” and should be responded to with “good thanks, you?”
“Morning Jeffrey!”
“Morning, how’re you going?”
2. She’ll be ‘right
This can be used to provide reassurance to someone, or confirmation that everything will be okay. It is also used to personify inanimate objects or scenarios.
“I just spent 15 minutes filling out an online application for my candidate and now my computer’s frozen.”
“She’ll be right. Just give her ten minutes.”
3. Strewth!
This is a word you can use when you are genuinely shocked or surprised. It is a good silence filler for when you are trying to process new, startling information.
“We are going to offer your candidate the role, but at a salary $10,000 less than what she asked for.”
“Strewth!”
https://twitter.com/jesterward/status/731609452789501953?lang=en-gb
4. How’d you pull up?
This is a way of asking someone how they are fairing. It is most commonly used the morning after a big night out or following a big, strenuous event.
“That networking event last night was crazy, I said I’d go for one drink and then I didn’t end up getting home until 4am.”
“How’d you pull up this morning?”
5. I’m under the pump
This means you are busy, or under serious pressure to perform.
“Fancy going out for lunch today after the conference call?”
“Sorry mate I can’t, I’m under the pump. I’ve got to find four candidates for my client by close of play today.”
6. You beaut!
This is an exclamation to commend someone on their great work. It can also be used as mere commentary on a great situation as it unfolds in real time.
“I have just pre-closed a candidate on $5,000 less than what I know the offer is going to be.”
“You beaut!”
7. Bonzer
Bonzer is another word for excellent, great or brilliant. It packs more punch though, and is a little more playful.
“How was the meeting?”
“It was bonzer. I pulled 3 live job leads.”
8. Big bikkies
Think dollars, cents, pounds and pence. Big bikkies means big money, or can be used to describe something being very expensive. When saying it, it makes you think of big, tasty biscuits, which is a bonus.
“That guy I placed four years ago has moved up the ranks so quickly – he just made director.”
“Good on him. I bet he’s earning big bikkies now.”
9. Fair dinkum
This can be used to emphasise the validity or trueness of someone or something.
“The new starter on Greg’s team has sourced 5 placements in her first month!”
“Yeah, she’s a fair dinkum rising star.”
Happy the decision was overturned but in the fairdinkum department that was a try
— MarkyMark (@markbaker01) May 22, 2016
10. Docket
This is used instead of receipt, and is a little bit more edgy.
“Would you like a receipt for the coffees?”
“Yes, I’d like a docket thanks. I’ll be handing this over to the tax-man, thank you!”
11. Give it a burl
Think ‘have a crack’ or ‘give it a go’. It means to release your inhibitions, let go of your worries and just bowl in to something.
“I’m scared to call that client in case he hangs up on me.”
“Who cares? Go on, give it a burl.”
12. Gone walkabout
This is a phrase used to describe someone going missing, or falling off the radar for a significant amount of time.
“Have you heard from Jeffrey? He only had one candidate meeting in the diary, but he’s been gone for four hours.”
“Nah, he’s probably gone walkabout mate.”
13. Mate’s rates
This refers to a discount, or when something is made cheaper or easier due to an existing relationship between buyer and seller.
“What are you charging for your candidates?”
“I usually operate at a margin of 20% for perm hires, but I’ve known these guys for years so I’ll give them 18% mate’s rates.”
14. Piece of piss
This is a turn of phrase which signifies something being super easy, or simple to master.
“This role is going to be so easy to fill. I literally have 10 perfect candidates already submitted.”
“Yes, this will be a piece of piss for you, mate.”
15. Rack off
This is a great way to tell someone to get lost or go away. It’s best to scrunch up your nose as you say this, and make a shooing gesture with your hand, while shaking your head.
“Jeffrey, can you please tell me how convert this PDF CV into a word document please?”
“Rack off! I’m busy.”
The Aussie waiter shouted "RACK OFF, MATE!" at me as I entered the restaurant last night, so I knew not to order the lamb.
— Jez a Bell (@Tsarcastic_) May 30, 2015
16. Ridgey-didge
This is a fun way to say something is original.
“I love the way she has worded her CV, it’s so captivating. My client is going to love this.”
“I know that candidate. She’s very ridgey-didge in everything she does.”
17. Rooted
Rooted is a way to describe a situation where you have absolutely no hope at succeeding. It is interchangeable with ‘doomed’.
“My candidate is currently second preference, behind a guy who literally ticks every box on the job description and is £5,000 cheaper.”
“You’re rooted.”
18. Stoked
You would use this word to describe a feeling of true happiness, sprinkled with surprise.
“Congratulations Jeffrey, you have hit your sales quota which means you are invited to attend the high achievers company trip!”
“Thank you. I am absolutely stoked, I didn’t think this was going to happen!”
19. Hit the turps
This is used to describe the action involved with enjoying an alcoholic beverage, or two.
“Jeffrey are you coming for a drink after work today?”
“Yes definitely, I’m pretty keen to hit the turps.”
20. Flamin’ galah
Flamin’ galah is used as a friendly insult. You can call someone this when they have done something silly, or careless. The phrase was made popular by Home and Away television character Alf Stewart.
“I accidentally shredded my notes from the meeting, so now I can’t remember what I’m supposed to do.”
“Well you’re a flamin’ galah, aren’t you?”
https://twitter.com/Chaos_Merchant/status/722647067668135936?lang=en-gb
21. Crikey!
This is simply a fun way to exclaim; the verbal Aussie interpretation of “!”. It can be used in response to a good or bad stimulus, but the key here is in the delivery. The late croc-hunter, Steve Irwin, used to say this when a crocodile would snap at him unexpectedly.
“Stop! Don’t send that joke email, you’ve got the whole office CC’d by mistake!”
“Crikey! That was close!”
Watching old videos of Steve Irwin, The Croc Hunter himself! Crikey, he's missed by me and so many others!
— Millicent (@MotorizedMillie) July 23, 2015
22. Budgy smugglers
This is not necessarily a term you would hear regularly in offices located in colder climates. However, as the weather starts to warm up, you might catch someone saying this, in relation to swimming or just going to the beach. Budgy smugglers refer to swimming pants for men. It is a term inspired by imagining how it might look if someone were to smuggle a budgy through an airport while only wearing pants.
“I’ll be getting my budgy smugglers out this weekend if it’s warm!”
Image: Shutterstock
