Favorite Australian Slang: Phrases Starting With “Fair”
This is part of an ongoing series of posts on my favorite Aussie slang. Be sure to check back for updates, or subscribe to my RSS feed to get updates to your reader automatically.
I love Australian slang. It sometimes makes you wonder how it started, and how people even understand what it means. I guess that goes with living in the language for your entire life; tourists on the other hand don’t have that kind time, so, to you, I hope my favorite slang posts can come in handy. This is a guide on some of those phrases that start with the word “fair”.
>> Before catching one of those cheap flights to Australia, be sure to check out my Australian language guide.
Fair Dinkum
Fair dinkum is a phrase that can be used as a way to show surprise, but it seems that many use it to talk about something being true or genuine. I definitely don’t hear this phrase every day, but when I do, I think about how Australian it sounds.
Fair Go (Mate)
Fair go, or fair go mate, can be heard just about daily, whether it’s on the television or from a friend. It means to have a chance like others. Politicians have used the phrase when saying something like, “Every child should be given a fair go.”
Fair Cow
Fair cow is in an interesting phrase that is suppose to refer to someone or something that is really annoying.
Fair Suck of the Sauce
I cannot help but think of Kevin Rudd (former PM of Australia) when I came across this term. He was sure partial to the phrase “fair shake of the sauce bottle”, which means pretty much the same as “fair suck of the sauce”. Just like fair go, this is used to ask for a chance, or an equal opportunity.
Fair Crack of the Whip
There’s yet another way to express the idea of giving someone or something a fair chance. I think this one is my favorite!