JNL
Cyburbian
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A while back we were discussing local phrases etc. In the interests of facilitating international communications, I present to you a list of
COMMON NEW ZEALAND SLANG
The following is a list of some New Zealand slang and their meanings. Warning - care should be taken with the use of these words.
Awesome = Fine, excellent
Bach = A holiday home (also known as a crib in the South Island)
Barbie = Barbecue (also written as BBQ) - food cooked outside over a charcoal or gas fire
Beaut, beauty = Something good or outstanding. Often used ironically to mean the opposite
Bro = Term of address for a male friend or relative
Bright spark = Intelligent, alert, attentive, awake
Bring a plate = Everyone brings food to share. Don't bring an empty plate.
Bush = New Zealand's native forest
Bushed, had it = Exhausted
BYO = Bring Your Own. A BYO restaurant is a restaurant that allows customers to bring their own wine to drink with their meal.
Chocker = Full
Choice = Fine, excellent
Chunder = To vomit
Clown = Term of abuse, idiot
Crook = To be ill or unwell. Also means a thief
Cuz = Term of address for friend or relative
Drive around the bend = Annoy so much you lose your temper
Feed = A meal
Foxy, fox = Used to describe a cool or good looking person of either sex
Fully = I agree
G'day = Greeting meaning hello
Got the blues = Used to describe a sad state of mind
Greenie = A conservationist
Gumboots = Waterproof rubber boots (called Wellingtons in Britain)
Grog = Alcohol
Hard case = A tough but likeable person, an eccentric person
Heart of gold = Describing a person who is very kind
Hook up = Meet up or join in
Hoon = A noisy person, a lout
Jandals = Rubber sandals or thongs (called flip flops in Britain)
Joker = A man
Kiwi = New Zealand native bird symbol. New Zealander
Lolly = The usual word for a confection or sweet
Mate = A friend, also a term of address
Mission = An adventure
Mongrel = A term of abuse or contempt for a person
Munted = To be broken or distorted
Nifty = Good (applied to a thing)
No worries = Common phrase of agreement
On to it = Efficient or intelligent
On a high = A good feeling that can come from success
Once in a blue moon = Very rarely, seldom, almost never
Paddock = A field, also a sports pitch
Piker = Someone who opts out of an activity
Pop on over/ pop in = Come and visit me at my house
Potluck dinner = Everyone brings prepared food to share with all the guests
Pressie = A present (gift)
Rellie = A relation or relative
Rough ride = A difficult experience
She'll be right = Everything is going to be OK
Shocking = Very bad
Shout = To treat your friends to something such as a drink or a meal
Snowed under = Usually has too much work or responsibility
Spuds = Potatoes
Sticks = Remote or rural district, the countryside
Stinge/Stingy = Not generous with your money
Stoked = Very excited
Sweet as = Great
Ta = Thanks
To take for a ride = To deceive or trick someone
Togs = Swimming costume
Tucker = Food
Turn to custard = Collapse of ideas, schemes, plans
Unc/Unco = An uncoordinated person, often used as an insult or taunt
Under the weather = Feeling off colour, unwell, tired
Uni = University
Varsity = University
Veggies = Vegetables
Wicked = Fine, excellent
Wop-wops = Remote or rural district, the countryside
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