the aussie experience.

alright boys and girls. i've got one last list of aussie-english words. probably the last one for the year. so listen up!

TINNY - a small aluminium fishing boat. often used by rowing coaches to ride along the water to yell at the rowers. more importantly, used to scoop out rowers that have fallen into the river. i've seen that happen! that brings us to our second word: alumiNIUM. not aluminum. al-loo-min-eee-um.

SUSSED OUT - to figure out, or sort out.
james my roommate: d'you suss out what's happening tonight?
me: did you just call me a sissy?!?

CAPSICUM - what we call a pepper or a bell pepper, they call capsicum. then, what do they call pepper spray? capsicum spray???

WHINGE - to whine. "stop whinging!"

TOAD in the HOLE - now a "toad in the whole" is where you poke a whole the size of a toonie in your bread, place it on the frying pan and then crack an egg into it. well, that's what the poms call it anyway. what's a pom? it's a not-so-affectionate term that aussies and kiwis used to refer to the brits.

POPPER - juice box!

PINCH - when you borrow something without any real intentions of returning it. "oh shoot, i meant to pinch a couple of scrubs from the hospital but i forgot."

BUCK's/HEN's PARTY - refers to a bachelor or bachelorette party.

some other things that i've learned/noticed...
MASCOT - i don't think i know what UQ's mascot is. and now that i think about it, i have no idea what UQ's sport teams are called. any UQers know the answer?

COIN in your CUP - this is one that i learned just the other day. so if you drop a coin into someone else's drink. the drink owner has to scull (chug) down whatever is remaining in his glass. but the money is their's now - free to be deposited into other unsuspecting beer holders.

THANKING the BUS DRIVER - everyone thanks the bus driver as they get off. even those that are getting off through the back doors. i'm not sure why we don't do that in toronto. and i find this odd because for the most part i find aussie bus drivers to be grumpier than ttc bus drivers.

BAG CHECK - this happens basically wherever you go. when you walk out of a store, they'll ask to have a look in your bag. i don't know why? i guess petty crime is an issue. meh. so when you're in oz and the store clerk asks to see inside your bag, don't be offended. it's not because you look like a juvenile delinquent. they ask everyone. even little ol' ladies.

ps. if you want anything aussie, speak up now or forever hold your peace. i'm sorry but all the koalas and kangaroos have been spoken for already.