[Idiom] Let's put another shrimp on the barbie

[Ehsan1986]

Hi,

"Let's put another shrimp on the barbie" seems to be an Aussie slang. I'd like to know where/how exactly it is used.

 

[philadelphia]

Take this: Urban Dictionary: Let's put another shrimp on the barbie

 

[Raymott]

Hi,

"Let's put another shrimp on the barbie" seems to be an Aussie slang. I'd like to know where/how exactly it is used.

It comes from an old (25 years maybe) TV campaign to lure American tourists to Australia. We actually call shrimps "prawns".
In fact, it is rarely used. I don't think it means anything outside the context of that ad.

Shrimp on the barbie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[BobK]

:up: One of my favourite gems of Strine is 'Don't come the raw prawn' (='don't pretend you're inexperienced').

Incidentally, some students may be wondering about 'barbie'. It's nothing to do with dolls, but an abbreviation of 'barbecue'.

b

 

[birdeen's call]

We actually call shrimps "prawns".

I heard shrimps and prawns are not the same thing. Now I've taken a look at Prawn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Shrimp - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and I see this is true. So you don't actually distinguish between them?

 

[euncu]

I was suprised when I first heard "prawn" in the movie "District 9". (shot in South Africa).
I don't think that they were referring to something other than shrimps.

 

[Raymott]

I heard shrimps and prawns are not the same thing. Now I've taken a look at Prawn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Shrimp - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and I see this is true. So you don't actually distinguish between them?

They might be scientifically different. I'm not sure whether what we eat in Australia are actually prawns or shrimps in a biological context. We call them all prawns.

 

[birdeen's call]

They might be scientifically different. I'm not sure whether what we eat in Australia are actually prawns or shrimps in a biological context. We call them all prawns.

Thanks for making it clear! I heard otherwise so it's very good to have it explained!