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Australian English Idioms

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Beyond the black stump: An Australian idiom idicating that even if you go as far as you can, the black stump is still a little further.
Blood is worth bottling: If an Australian says to you "Your blood is worth bottling", he/she is complimenting or praising you for doing something or being someone very special.
Cut down the tall poppies: If people cut down the tall poppies, they criticise people who stand out from the crowd.
Dog-whistle politics: When political parties have policies that will appeal to racists while not being overtly racist, they are indulging in dog-whistle politics.
Dry as a wooden god: Very dry area or very thirsty: That desert is as dry as a wooden god.
Flash as a rat with a gold tooth: Someone who's as flash as a rat with a gold tooth tries hard to impress people by their appearance or bahaviour.
Flat out like a lizard drinking: An Australian idiom meaning extremely busy, which is a word play which humorously mixes two meanings of the term flat out.
Mad as a cut snake: One who is mad as a cut snake has lost all sense of reason, is crazy, out of control.
On the knocker: If you do something on the knocker, you do it immediately or promptly.
On the wallaby track: In Australian English, if you're on the wallaby track, you are unemployed.
See which way the cat jumps: If you see which way the cat jumps, you postpone making a decision or acting until you have seen how things are developing.
She'll be apples: A very popular old Australian saying meaning everything will be all right, often used when there is some doubt.
Stone the crows: Stone the crows is used to convey shock or surprise similarly to "Oh my God". "Stone the flamin' crows" is a more emphatic form of the expression.
Talk the legs off an iron pot: Somebody who is excessively talkative or is especially convincing is said to talk the legs off an iron pot. ('Talk the legs off an iron chair' is also used)
Up a gum tree: If you're up a gum tree, you're in trouble or a big mess.

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Australian English Idioms

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