WHAT'S IN A NAME, MATE?

A Sideways Glance at the Hidden Meaning of Aussie Place Names

There are many place names around the world that cry out to tell you their true meaning. Well, perhaps not their ridgey didge true meaning, but who has ever looked at the name Footscray and not felt that it probably also exists as an entry in a medical dictionary? Or Patchewollock, or Humpty Doo? Exactly.

This work attempts to do for (or to) Australian place names what Douglas Adams and John Lloyd did for Britain and the rest of the world, in The Meaning of Liff and The Deeper Meaning of Liff.

Words by Duncan Waldron, illustrations by Matt Davis.

Creative Commons License
This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.

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See Why am I doing this? for something approaching a motive.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Bennelacking - Booragoon

Bennelacking adj
Not the full quid; two cherries short of a trifle.

Bethungra n
The feeling you get when a romantic moment is spoiled by your partner farting and then either smirking about it or inhaling deeply and saying "oh, yesss!" cf Dickygundi.

Bimbimbie n
The kind of person whose idea of a good commercial venture is standing behind a trestle table in shopping malls, selling mobile phone accessories, cheap sunglasses, etc.

Birre Sand Blow n
A good portion of a surf beach brought back into the house by a teenager. It may be dry and evenly distributed, or wet and patchy. cf Antill Ponds.

Bobawaba adj
Of the motion of a tall jelly or trifle, being carried by a tipsy woman wearing high-heeled shoes.

Bolgart n
An advertising ploy that describes a product as something it cannot possibly be, eg "Insta-Roast – the best coffee there is," or "Gluggo instant rice cereal – just like mother makes." cf Popanyinning.

Boolarong adj
Of the contradictory situation when a teenager, who knows it all, makes the same fundamental error of judgement or discipline for the hundred and thirty-seventh time. This will, of course, be apparent to all present except the perpetrator.

Boomahnoomoonah interj
Colloquialism meaning, approximately, "that’s easy for you to say."

Boomanoomana interj
Familiar to taxi drivers around Kings Cross, after 3 am. It means "I’m not the slightest bit intoxicated, and would you please take me to the nearest zoo." Often confused with Boomahnoomoonah (qv), which is understandable.


Boomanoomana

Booragoon n
The uncomfortable feeling, experienced by someone in a crowd listening to a politician at election time, that the speaker has singled him out as being gullible enough to merit serious and undivided attention. cf Argalong.

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