Aussie English: An Explanation of the Australian Idiom

by John O'Grady

Aussie An Explanation of the Australian Idiom. In this vintage volume, author John O'Grady takes a humorous look at Australian English.

Genres: Australia, Reference

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

John O'Grady did not set out to be a writer. A pharmacist and founder of the Sydney Repetory Theatre, he occasionally wrote one-act plays for its benefit. After mocking his brother Frank's historical fiction, John accepted a bet that he could write a book and get it published. They're a Weird Mob was surprisingly successful, the first of his 18 books to be published.

Reviews

[Madelin Drew]

This was a funny non-fiction text on Australian conversation and slang. Australian’s effing love beer. I would absolutely love a Canadian version of this, and that’s probably why, besides how much author John O’Grady talked about beer, I couldn’t engage with it as much as I would have liked to.

Also incredibly Heteronormative, published in 1965 it makes sense; a lot of the definitions include banter regarding husband and wife either between the two or between man and friend. Though, Queen is used in reference to “male homosexuals” - still this definition is homophobic and I don’t feel the need to quote said definition for all.

[Bradley White]

Well hooly-dooly, a dinkum look at the Ozzie slang.

Got to shoot through now you Galah.

[Celeste]

I have no idea how outdated this book is, but it was somewhat amusing and somewhat offensive in places.

[Linda]

Just plain fun. Especially if you've ever dealt with any Aussies.