Kiwi slang

Yeah, i did it. This is all the kiwi slang words, swear words and language.. most of it i know isn't very common in the states/canada, etc, tho much of it is used in Australia. (Don't send me any emails saying, "oh but we *do* use that in America!" cause i know some of it you do. And i don't care what ones. ;) Just read and laugh.

Swear words/praises/slang words

• bloke - usually a man, and often used when referring to a stranger as in; "There's this bloke down the road who sells greasies from his pie-cart for $1 a bag, which is much cheaper than that bloke who has a shop", or used when referring to someone you like, as in; "That bloke, Joe Blow, is a really nice guy once you get to know him".
  
• shit-all - nothing
  
• shitload "drank a shitload o' piss last night" - a lot of something
  
• bugger - used to mean.. sodomizer. ;) now it means a mischievious or funny person.."You silly bugger!" Also useful when you drop a piano on your foot. ;)
  
• primo - cool, good.
  
• pigs - the police.
  
• psych - "don't throw a psych!"
  
• scodie - gross.
  
• cruise, cruisy - "let's just cruise 'round.." "i'm cruisy.."
  
• dear - expensive.
  
• dinky - cute or tacky
  
• to 'spit the dummy' - throw a fit, get really mad
  
• how come? - why?
  
• doolie - boy at a catholic school. sometimes used for girls but.. naah. isn't the same. ;)
  
• flag "Naah, flag." "flag it." - let's not do that/it.
  
• chronic "yeah, hurts something chronic" - emphasis on the pain, etc.
  
• fogey "old fogey!" - old person who doesn't know anything about our generation.. i mean, really! get a clue!
  
• bute-ee (beauty) - "you bute-ee!" - you fabulous thing! when s/o does something nice for you. "ohhh.. you beauty"
  
• beaut - great; good fun; "that'll be beaut mate"
  
• mate "Thanks, mate" "pass us a beer, mate" - friend, pal. mate, buddie. (common term, and can be used even with strangers) as in "how's it going mate" for "how are you", but it is NOT used to the same extent as spoken in Australia where every second word seems to be "mate".
  
• ta - thanks.
  
• bit of a dag - hard case; comedian; joker
  
• blow me down - expression of surprise, as in; "Well! Blow me down, I didn't know that."
  
• bludge - to sponge off others; as in "dole bludger"
  
• Bob's your Uncle - roughly translates to 'there ya go - that's all there is to it!' Just press this big red button that says 'Launch Missile', and "Bob's your uncle".
  
• bonk - to have sex with
  
• boy-racer - Young hoon in fast car with unbelievably loud stereo!
  
• brassed off - disappointed, annoyed
  
• brickie - bricklayer.
  
• bugalugs - usually used for something like "cutie" ..a bit like "mate" as in "how's it going bugalugs"
  
• buggered - exhausted
  
• bugger off - piss off, shove off, get out
  
• bun in the oven - pregnant
  
• bust a gut - make an intense effort
  
• carked it - died, kicked the bucket
  
• cheers - goodbye or thanks or good luck.
  
• cheerio - good bye
  
• chippy - builder, carpenter
  
• choc-a-block - full to overflowing
  
• chunder - to vomit
  
• cods wollop - untrue statement or remark is referred to as a "load of lod cods wollop".
  
• crikey dick! - gosh! wow!
  
• crook - sick, unwell
  
• cuz - as in male or female cousin
  
• ding - a small dent in a vehicle; as in "the prang caused a bit of a ding"
  
• dodgy - bad, unreliable, spoiled, strange; as in "that fish is a bit dodgy".
  
• eh - pronounced as you would the letter "a" and often used at the end of sentences when expecting a response to a statement - it is spoken as a question. i.e. "This would be a better gift, eh", instead of saying "Do you think this would be a better gift"? Using it this way has become an everyday part of our conversation. It is also often used as a substitute for "pardon"? or "what"? i.e. "eh"? - but neither "what"? nor "eh"? are really acceptable and you would probably get a lengthy lecture about polite language if you tried using it too often.. i know my mum doesn't like it!
  
• flash - sensational or "thats flash" meaning it looks really good.
  
• flog - steal, nick
  
• frock tart - without the persistance of Laura Straub the meaning of this phrase would have remained a mystery. Quote: Its TV/Movie industry slang (and it is Kiwi!) for someone who works on/designs/sews the costumes. The term came from a disclaimer at the end a rather costume intense version of 'Xena: Warrior Princess'. It read: "No frock tarts were killed during the production of this motion picture, however, many wished they had been"
  
• get off the grass - exclamation of disbelief; equivalent to "stop pulling my leg", "get outta here", and "no way"
  
• gimme - abbreviation for "give me..."
  
• gizza - abbreviation for "give us a..."
  
• going bush - become reclusive. And to take off for the bush and live for an extended period to "get away from it all".
  
• good as gold - a good job well done; not a problem; an affirmative answer - as in Q: "Do you mind if I pay for this later"? A: "Good as gold mate, good as gold".
  
• hard case - joker; comedian
  
• hoon - usually associated with young adults, fast cars, loud stereos and alcohol
  
• hooray - the Kiwi "Goodbye"
  
• hosing down - raining heavily
  
• hunky dory or honky dory - everything's fine, as in "my life is hunky dory"
  
• kick the bucket - die, cark it
  
• knackered - stuffed, exhausted; as in "I am knackered"; "that bike is knackered" and surplus farm animals go to the "Knackers Yard"! (This word has MANY uses - few of them being optimistic!)
  
• naff off - get lost!
  
• panel beater - auto body shop
  
• pike out - to give up when the going gets tough
  
• piker - one who gives up easily (see above)
  
• pissed - drunk, inebriated
  
• pissed-off - angry, as in "I'm really pissed off!"
  
• pissing down - raining heavily
  
• piss around - waste time or effort in a futile manner a.k.a. fart about
  
• piss-up - social gathering with alcohol
  
• plod - friendly term for local policeman
  
• prang - minor vehicle accident, or a major one as in "that was one hell of a prang"
  
• rack off - go away (angry), piss off
  
• raining cats & dogs - raining heavily!
  
• randy - horny, feeling sexy
  
• rark up - give somebody a good telling off
  
• rattle your dags - hurry up; get a move on. The expression 'Rattle your dags' reputedly refers to a somewhat mucky sheep 'rattling it's dags (dried excretia hanging from the wool)' when running!
  
• root: to have sex. A warning to folk from the USA! - A female visitor from the US has this to say... My first time in NZ I made the unfortunate mistake of listing off my hobbies to a family that had me over for tea.... among my hobbies? "I like to root for the football team!" (one of the boys said, "What, the WHOLE team??")
  
• ring - phone somebody; as in "I'll give him/her/them a ring"
  
• scull - drink beer rapidly
  
• she'll be right - not a problem, it'll be O.K.
  
• skiting - bragging; showing off
  
• sickie - as in "Throw a sickie":- to take time off work "officially" for illness, but more likely for a fun day!
  
• skint - short of money
  
• squiz - as in "Have a squiz":- to take a look at something; "Giz a Squiz":- ask for a look at something.
  
• snarky - mixture of sarcastic and nasty
  
• sook - kindly description of someone who is being silly, or behaving like a softy or scaredy cat. As in:- "you're being a sook"... "just a big sook" and so on... More often than not the phrase is used as a term of endearment.
  
• sparkie - electrician
  
• sprog - a child
  
• stirrer - trouble-maker, agitator
  
• strapped for cash - short of money
  
• strewth - honestly, expletive showing frustration. Expanded upon by J Witherow as follows: "Strewth is an expletive and also slang for honestly. But it's my understanding that it's derived from the old phrase 'God's Truth'. Which, when run together, is ... s'truth!" Makes sense! (I agree)
  
• strop - go for a strop, go for a burn, speed with reckless disregard
  
• stupid as a two bob watch - used to describe a person who behaves irrationally
  
• suck the kumura (sweet potato) - to die or otherwise cease
  
• sunday driver - Driving really, really slow
  
• ta - Thanks
  
• tata - goodbye, usually when speaking to a child
  
• yonks - forever, a long time ago, ages; as in "I haven't seen them in yonks".
  
• yarn - spin a "tall story", tell a joke
  
• yack - general conversation held between friends; as in "have a yack".
  
• yoo-hoo - Hello, I'm here. Can I come in?
  
• you ain't wrong - that's right, yes
  
• you can't help bad luck - contrary to the wording, the phrase quite often means congratulations!, also a dismissive phrase for "too bad" or "who cares"
  
• take the piss - to ridicule
  
• take a hike - Expression of anger, as in; "Go away!" "Get lost!"
  
• tiki tour - roundabout way to get somewhere; scenic tour
  
• two sammies short of a picnic - used to describe a person who is a "bit thick".
  
• up the duff - pregnant
  
• wally - clown, loser
  
• wee cracker - From Keith Goetzman, with thanks. "A Kiwi mystified me with this one morning while I was tramping at Nelson Lakes." "Wee cracker of a day, isn't it?"
  
• wet blanket - Someone who spoils the fun of others; someone who doesn't get into the "swing" of things, particularly at a social occasion.
  
• what are ya! - "Are you mad?" or "You're taking the piss!" And as suggested by Jonathan it implies doubt about "manhood" when a male shows fear. As in:- "What are ya! ... Pussy?"
  
• whinge - complain
  
• wobbly (pack a wobbly) - become angry, get snotty
  
• wonky - crooked
  
• wop-wops - out of the way location
  

Clothes

singlet/singlet top - a sleeveless top with thin straps.
jersey - a woollen sweater or sweatshirt, but jersey also applies to all the other fabrics, too
pjs, jammies - pajamas
togs - bathing suit
jandal: thongs, flip-flops (shoes)
gumboots: rubber boots, wellingtons, wellies
dressing gown - worn after a shower, over underwear.. robe.
braces: suspenders
cardy (cardigan): woollen button-up-the-front jersey (also cardie)
tights: pantyhose
tracksuit: sweats

Foods

biscuits - what americans call cookies
jelly - what americans call jello
jam - what americans call jelly
marge - margarine
sausie - sausage
tinny - can of beer, also used for a drug.
cuppa - cup of tea.
tea - can be used for dinner
vegemite/marmite: spread for toast or bread. Indescribable, but missed by many expat Kiwi's. Bill Tabb described it as... "A spread the color of dark molasses, the consistency of cold honey and the flavor of yeasty soy sauce. A flavor that is acquired, and quite good on warm soft pretzels here in California." (Actually, it's a good description!)
candyfloss: cotton candy
capsicum: green pepper
chips: french fries
chocolate fish: a chocolate covered marshmallow fish. Also frequently given (literally or figuratively) as a reward for a job well done; as in "Good on ya, mate. You deserve a chocolate fish".
cornflour: cornstarch
crisps: potato chips
fizzy drink - soda drink, pop
greasies: common term for fish and chips, probably because they usually are!
hokey pokey: 'sea foam' candy
ice block: popsicle
L&P: fizzy soda water, Lemon & Paeroa (L&P); originally lemon flavoured spring water from the town of Paeroa, but this is no longer the case.
lolly: candy
pikelet: small pancake often served with jam and whipped cream
pinky bar: a chocolate-covered marshmallow confection (my fav.. you buy me one of these, i'm yours ;)
take-aways: New Zealand term for "take-outs" or food "to go".
tomato sauce: catsup
fag/ciggy - smoke/cigarette.
dak - dope. ;)
booze, piss - alcohol.

Places

4 (four-square) "Yeah, got it down at the 4, man" - corner general store
dag: hard case; joker; comedian, as in "Joe Blow's a bit of a dag isn't he?" "A bit of a dag mate! - He's the whole sheep's arse!" (Perhaps you have to be a Kiwi to appreciate that one)
dairy: "corner" store originally only selling milk, bread, papers, convenience foods and dairy produce, and until the past decade or so, the only shop allowed to open 7 days a week. Still is the only shop allowed to open on Christmas day and Good Friday, for a few hours, and without a special licence.
bach: small holiday home, pronounced "batch"
bush: small and large trees and native plants densely packed together - sort of like a small forest. "I'm going out bush, mate"
car park: parking lot
chemist: pharmacy, drug store. Also a euphemism for druggist.
dunny: toilet, bathroom, lavatory
flat: apartment
footpath: pavement or sidewalk
ground floor: first floor. Very confusing for Kiwi visitors to the States! When using lifts (elevators) we are always one floor out!
loo: bathroom
pub: bar, hotel were liquor is served

Stuff (ie, doesn't really go anywhere else ;)

cv - resume
bonnet - hood, lid covering front of car where the engine is.
boot - trunk, back storage compartment of car
dummy - baby's pacifier
telly - television
ads: TV commercials, adverts
A & P Show: usually a 3 or 4 day event where farmers strut their stuff and win prizes for best cow, largest onion, best pikelet etc. Often has sideshows for the townies, with ferris wheels, dodgems and such like. (A&P = Agricultural & Pastoral)
boxing day: the day after Christmas Day. This word comes from the custom which started in the Middle Ages around 800 years ago: churches would open their 'alms boxe' (boxes in which people had placed gifts of money) and distribute the contents to poor people in the neighbourhood on the day after Christmas. The tradition continues today.
bumper: fender
caravan: trailer, mobile home
cheque: check
chilly bin: sealable, usually polystyrene insulated box, for keeping beer & food cold
chook: chicken
chrissy: Christmas
cotton buds: Q-tips
crib: small holiday home
dole: unemployment benefit; income support for the unemployed
duvet: comforter, doona
flannel: wash cloth
fortnight: two consecutive weeks, derived from 14 days (nights)
fringe: bangs
gawk / gawking: stare at; take a look at. As in "What are you gawking at!?" or "Take a gawk at this!"
hottie: hot water bottle
judder bar: speed bump
Kiwi: New Zealander
kiwi: an endangered flightless bird native to New Zealand
kiwifruit: hairy skinned fruit with lime green flesh - formerly known as Chinese Gooseberry
lift: elevator
lorry: truck
Maori: indigenous people of New Zealand.
motorway: freeway
nana: female grandparent
nappy - diaper
pakeha: non-Maori person (eg. me ;)
petrol: gasoline
pie cart: affection term for a road-side or side-show food seller's converted mobile caravan, from which you can buy predominantly fast food take-aways such as pies, burgers, hot-dogs, fish and chips and such-like tasty treats.
pong: bad smell
power cut: outage
postal code: zip code
pony tail: as in hair tied at the back of one's head
pram: baby carriage, stroller
rellies: family, relatives
rubber: eraser
rubbish: trash or garbage; as in "should I throw this in the rubbish?"
serviette: A napkin made of either fabric or absorbent paper, and used to wipe hands & mouth at tea.
sellotape: scotch tape / cellotape
shandy: drink made with lemonade and beer
sticking plaster: band-aid
sticky tape: cellotape / sellotape / scotch tape
sunnies: sunglasses
tea towel: dish rag
tramping: hiking
torch: flashlight
trots: horse racing with a buggy
twink: white-out
wardrobe: clothes closet
windscreen: windshield