Words Americans should avoid saying to Aussie’s

Words Americans should avoid saying to Australasians
The spread of the Internet provides opportunities to offend or confuse correspondents whom you imagine speak the same dialect of English as you. This is to alert Americans to innocent words from their dialect that Australasians (Australians and New Zealanders) may find offensive or confusing. For a list of words Americans may find offensive, see my American-Australian Slang Dictionary.

You are, however, less likely to offend or confuse Australasians than you might think. Australians in particular are pretty hard to offend even at the best of times. And because of the universal spread of American language (mainly via TV), Australasians may consider your linguistic origin and know what you mean.

This list is maintained by Robert P. O'Shea. If you find any errors or omissions, or if you have any comments, please send e-mail to roshea you know what scu.edu.au.

Usage panel members: Peter Belew (PB).

Explanatory Chart:

word or phrase [optional part] part of speech. (Origin, both etymological and geographical; frequency of use) 1. First American meaning. Information about Australasian meaning and usage, including (e.g., ``Examples'') (s.a. related words) and derived words or phrases and preferred Australasian terms. (Initials of usage panel member, if it was not possible to obtain verification of the word by at least one other person) 2. Second meaning, etc.
derived part of speech. Pertaining to various meanings.

bugger n. (American slang) Someone who is mildly but persistently annoying. This term has various meanings for Australasians, however, the most offensive of which is to refer to someone who engages in sodomy, which is not usually even discussed, much less practised, in polite company. Less offensive meanings include referring, sometimes affectionately, to someone who is a fool (silly old bugger''), using it as an exclamation, and using the word for the act to describe a serious pain (hurts like buggary'').

bum n. A low person, a tramp, a panhandler. An Australasian may think you are referring to pair of buttocks.

fanny n. (American slang) Buttocks. Fanny is an extremely offensive Australasian slang term for the female genitalia, so announcing to an Australasian that you ``patted your friend on the fanny'' can can leave him or her with decidedly the wrong impression. The word you are searching for is bum. The Australasian meaning of fanny is for some, however, being pushed into oblivion by the repetition of this innocuous American word in the theme song for the sitcom, The Nanny. The preferred Australasian term for fanny pack is bum bag.

freeze vt. (American slang) To anesthetize locally. If an Australasian suffered a wound, and you told him or her that you were going to freeze it before stitching it, he or she begin to have serious doubts about the quality of North-American health care.

go to the bathroom v. (American slang) To urinate or defecate. If you ask an Australasian for the location of the bathroom, you are just as liable to be shown a room containing only a bath. The word you are searching for is toilet.

luck out n. (American slang) To have good fortune. To Australasians, and particularly to New Zealanders, this means just the opposite. The equivalent Australasian term may be luck in.

mince [meat] n. Stew made from dried fruits such as currants, saltanas, and raisins. Australasians understand mince to be ground beef, or hamburger. A New Zealand mince pie, one of the major food groups in that country, will give you a very different taste sensation from what you are expecting. Australians don't really refer to a basic meat pie as a mince pie, but as a ``hob'oi''. One of Australia's national dishes, however, is mince on toast. But I digress. The Australasian term for a mince pie is fruit tart.

napkin n. Cloth or paper towel to protect the clothes while eating. Australasians refer to napkins as serviettes. Saying ``napkin'' may make Australasians think of a sanitary napkin, which is used to absorb menstrual blood.

Randy n. Abbreviation of the name Randolph. If you introduce someone to an Australasian as Randy, he or she will think that person wants to have sex. For example, if you say ``Hi, I'm Randy'', don't be surprised if your correspondent suggests you have a cold shower.

root vi. 1. To cheer for a sports team. Root is an offensive Australian slang verb meaning have sexual intercourse with''. Announcing to an Australian that youare a cheerleader, so you don't see many football games because you are in the stands rooting'' will give a misleading impression about your devotion to the team. 2. To grow roots. I rooted some plants'' is practised by vegiphiles in Australia. 3. To dig or rummage.I was rooting around in my room for the rent money'' is done only if an Australian does not actually have the rent money.
n. An Australian may take the noun to refer to his or her sexual partner. Even so, saying ``I tripped over a root'' will occasion only the tiniest frisson of delight in your Australian correspondent; he or she will understand.

varsity a. Referring to senior sports teams in schools, universities, and clubs. An Australasian, and particularly a New Zealander, may think you are referring to a university.

wet back n. An illegal immigrant into the US from Mexico. A New Zealander may think you are referring to an enclosed, wood- or coal-burning fire containing a connection to a house's hot water cylinder (although I admit the context would surely make this mistake unlikel