American reacts to 10 funny Australian Expressions 

'A few kangaroos loose in the top paddock' actually means that someone is a little bit bonkers. 'A few sandwiches short of a picnic' means someone isn't the sharpest tool in the shed.

“Spitting the dummy” is loosing your temper where “having a winge” is usually just a mild chat with friends about something that’s pissed you off.

Can we take a moment to respect the fact Ryan was having a whinge about the narrator using the word 'whinge' when defining the phrase 'having a whinge'. It's like 'Whinge-ception' 🤩

That's not what tall poppy syndrome is at all. It's also more than just a phrase. It's the way we tear down people who think they are better than others.

Faffing around is wasting time. Mucking around is joking or playing.

I'm From New Zealand and have been living in Australia for decades. The term 'Stoked' has been used by me and my friends since the 70's on both sides of 'The Ditch' (water which separates NZ and Aus). Although typically associated with surfers and skateboarders alike, we were not surfers. It became everyday slang for all. Also, a tiny slipup from the other content creator; The correct expression is 'Not the Sharpest Tool in the shed' rather than 'Not the Smartest tool in the shed'. Love you channel Ryan.

We also use "Bumf*ck, Nowhere" as the Australian version of BFE. Also alternately "back of Bourke" or "beyond the black stump"

Fair dinkum: As an adjective it means genuine, honest, true. "He's a fair dinkum Aussie" or "I had a fair dinkum crack at fixing the mower, but I just couldn't get it to start". Said with a rising inflection in means something like 'for real?' e.g., Steve: "I just won the lotto!" Sarah: "Fair dinkum?!" It can also be said as a strong affirmation, so Steve might reply, "Yep. Fair dinkum I did! It can also just be an exclamation of surprise or annoyance! "Fair dinkum! You scared me half to death!" or "Fair dinkum!! A bloody flat tyre AGAIN!"

It can be just a reply too. Most of our slangs means ing change meanings based of tone of voice

Sometimes instead of woop woop people will say …the other side of the black stump. The black stump is a name used for a place far away. Where does Dave live? The other side of the black stump. I love our language. I never realised just how unique it really is to speak Aussie English. 😊

Tall poppy syndrome in a more general sense describes Australians attitudes against bragging.. Australian society was created from an egalitarian foundation. Even convict children were given free education and any convict who behaved was treated fairly. Everyone (not just convicts) did it tough in the pioneering days. Everyone had to work. So as a result anybody who likes to brag may incur the wrath of the tall poppy syndrome.

'Fair dinkum' can be used several ways. "I am being fair dinkum with you", but when feeling you are being lied to, you might derisively say, "Oh, fair dinkum!" which means essentially, "Bullshit!" The idea of the 'tall poppy' is they grow too high and others want to cut them down to reduce what they see as hubris and make them on the same level as everyone else. 'Woop woop' means remote and usually unpleasant. "You don't want to be sent up to Woop Woop, do you?"

Paddock is the Australian meaning for Field 🤷‍♀️

A lot these sayings originated in England or Ireland, we just altered them and honed them down! 😁 Fair dinkum! 👍 So Rightio, means I agree! Spit the dummy, comes from Rugby, I think (he's acting like a child)! No dramas, no f*ing worries mate! Whinge, a lot of pommies do that - complain! Tall Poppy syndrome, is usually about actors, the rich, etc, who think they are special! A few Kangaroos loose - not very bright! Woop Woop - is too far to direct you, so in the bush or outback! To be stoked, very excited and happy! Onya - aren't you a hero, that's great, good job, ok, whatever! 😂 See ya Ryan! 👍

"Faffing about??" I've travelled all over this wide, brown land and I have never heard any Australian ever use that phrase. If anything, it's more likely to be used by Pommies. And speaking of Pommies, I'll never forget hearing for the first time the Pommy equivalent of "spitting the dummy" and it was from none other than the late, great Pommy fast bowler, Fred Trueman. While commentating on a game of cricket here in Oz, Freddie noticed a player blowing up over something that had annoyed him and remarked in his broadest Yorkshire accent, "'ullo, 'ullo, looks like 'es chooked teddy out t' cot!" Because when a baby in a cot is having a little 'tanty', the first thing to come flying out of the cot is his teddy bear! 🤣

the best one is ' Yeah Nah ' means yes i know what you mean , but no i don't want to do that , it's so Aussie , peace and ❤from Australia.......love your show Ryan Always......

I‘m stoked with this video! 😄 Woop woop in Germany is called „am A*sch der Welt“, which means „at the a** of the world.“ Onya, Ryan and happy Thanksgiving! 🇺🇸🤗

I found a perfect example of "Tall Poppy Syndrome" in a comment left in your recording of viewing "The Steven Bradbury Story". The comment was by @justlinsu "I am so glad that you showed this video Ryan. Here in Australia many just treated him like a joke.[THESE PEOPLE WERE SUFFERING TALL POPPY SYNDROME].so many smart arse comics (comments) etc. They never took the time to see how much he had contributed to this sport in Australia. To me and he is the typical Aussie battler who never gives up. A very kind man and always a gentleman. Most sporting people have a huge respect for him. He is a hero of mine." I hope this helps.

Tall poppy syndrome is a little bit different to how he explained it. It's not to be jealous of someone's success--it's to want to cut someone down when they want stop bragging and thinking they're better than everyone. The idea is that one poppy is making itself taller than the rest, so everyone else pulls it back down to size. Happens a lot to Americans when they come to Australia as we have the cultural difference in saying qualifications and expecting respect, and that kind of thing.

Ryan goes into dad mode and nails spit the dummy 😂

'Smartest tool in the shed'? They're confusing their metaphors. Meant to be 'not the sharpest tool in the shed'.

you have me laughing every time I watch your videos about Australia,especially when you try to pronounce our words . yes I am from Australia, thank you I just love watching you ,please don't ever stop making these videos . have a great "arvo mate"

A few kangaroos loose in the top paddock means someone is a bit crazy. The top paddock is the brain

Being stoked about something I think came from the name of people who used to stoke [shovel coal] into the fireboxes to heat the boilers for steam driven engines. They were called stokers; the idea is to keep the pressure up so that the engine would run at maximum efficiency. So being full and ready to go, or being full to the brim with excitement/happiness is to be 'stoked'.

He should definitely react to Aussie Christmas songs

Fair dinkum is a great one as it works in two ways: 1: you say it in conjunction with some kind of statement to signify it’s a true and honest statement. For example, ‘fair dinkum it’s hot out there.’ 2: it can be used as a question. For example, someone tells you something (anything) and you reply by asking ‘fair dinkum?’ which means you’re asking if what they just said is true and honest. 😂😂😂

C’mon Ryan, you need to fund raise with your followers to get you and your fam out here. It’s tragic you just have to watch videos. Let’s get behind Ryan!!!

honestly you need to come to australia with all your knowledge 😂

"Spit the Binky" lol this guy is hilarious.

Woop Woop was 10km North-west of Wilga, about 70km South of Collie. It was a milling town which came into existence in 1925 to harvest jarrah trees, but after three years, faded into history.

As a 31 year old Aussie, I've NEVER heard someone say "faffing" around, wtf 😂 That is NOT said here, maybe 50 years ago or in England, but no we don't say that 😂

I wouldn't use the "Kangaroos loose in the top paddock" for someone who's stupid, but rather if they're a little unhinged or incoherent from drugs or mental illness.

8:04 We say "butt fu©k nowhere" like "Mt Isa is in the middle of butt fu©K nowhere 😂

Yes a "dummy" here (in this context) is a pacifier in the USA. So it means exactly as you described it!

No. 6 example should be 'not the sharpest tool in the shed".

Most of these expressions - excepting those involving marsupials - have been used in Britain for generations too. Faffing around is an expression derived from the English word faff. This means to blow around in the wind.

Out the back of woop woop is even further away ...another way of using it 😂

Expression 7. My dad used to say "Stop piss farting around". When I was a student teacher in a Private school, I said this to the kids in front of my supervision. I was pulled outside and told off. "You said piss fart. Do you realize how disgusting that is? This is bla bla College. We don't talk like that here". I had to apoligise and admit, I was just talking the way my father talked to us kids. I never really thought about the expression. Deary me.

I also say "no stress" in sort of the same way as "no worries" but more in situations that might cause people anxiety... such as cancelling plans.

I have never told my husband to stop gaffing around. May have used a different f word but I won’t admit it.😂

I’m from the UK and faffing around is a British saying and often use it.

My favourite is using "just down the street/road / just round the corner" as a universal measure between two places regardless of distance or time required to go from start to finish 😂

Translation of WOOP WOOP to USA English is "out the back of bum fuck nowhere" 😊 Keep up the good work mate

My favo Aussie expression of all time is from back when I was a kid. Back when we had pan services to replace full dunny cans with empty ones once per week. The "pan man" (also known as the "shit carter") would wear a hat and carry the pan on his head to and from the dunny truck. Now if I'm feelng under the weather I say that I'm feeling "flat as a shit carter's hat". What a great Aussie saying!

Regarding "no worries" there is a variation you may hear - "no wuckers" (I spelt it phonetically). It comes from the Spoonerism of "no f$%cking worries" to get "no wucking furries" that then got shortened to "no wuckers".

My favourite is no wucking furries.An oldie but goodie: shot through like a Bondi tram.

"Intrepid" = Lack of trepidation. Without hesitation. One of the Apollo spacecraft was named Intrepid, and the USS Intrepid is the navy carrier / museum in New York harbor. Expression #1 Example - FYI, that's actually a true story. "No Worries" is basically a positive affirmation. Depending on exact context, Aussies use it to mean - "I'm OK", "Yes", "Message Received And Understood", "We're Good", "You're Welcome", "You're OK', or even simply "Don't Worry About It" Yes, you can whinge, or you can have a whinge, we''re pretty flexible about this one. "Not the full quid", "A few sausages short of a full barbie (barbeque)" and "a few sandwiches short of a picnic" are also used in lieu of kangaroos + paddock to refer to someone who is ..... not fully rational.

The main difference between "spitting the dummy" and "having a whinge" is "Spitting the dummy" is usually loud, angry and public, "Having a whinge" is usually quieter, a more select audience, and seeking sympathy more than expressing anger. "Fair dinkum" probably originated from English nautical terminology. One meaning of "Fair" is that the lines or looks of a boat or ship are good, no bumps or humps, no holes or bits sticking out, no sudden unnecessary corners or curves, every curve blends smoothly into the next. "Dinkum" more or less means what "plumb" in the vertical direction or plane would represent in the horizontal direction or plane, basically straight and on the level. So "fair dinkum" basically means looking straight and level, or appears to be straight and on the level, mostly used in a literal or abstract sense rather than being applied to something physical. A paddock is usually a fenced in farmer's field. Different paddocks are used for different reasons or different livestock or for different seasons. There is the house paddock which is near the homestead where the housecow and the nighthorse live. The nighthorse is a quiet horse or pony that is easy to catch, saddle and ride but generally is not young enough or sturdy enough to use for long musters. Mostly used to bring the housecow in and other light riding. The bottom paddock or paddocks are near the creek and gave the best feed but have to be mustered out if the creek is due to flood or when the seasons turn really dry. The top paddock or paddocks are in the higher ground where there is no chance of flooding so the stock are held there during floods and then usually left empty during good seasons to provide some holdover feed most probably for during winter as this type of country usually keeps the grass sweeter during long dry spells than the bottom paddocks. Of course in the saying "too many kangaroos loose in the top paddock" the top paddock refers to the higher part of the body. There are of course many other colourful sayings, old and new, that describe similar conditions like "a shilling or two short of a pound", or "a couple of cockatoos (or galahs) nesting up in the top branches".

"To be Stoked" is full up and happy, it originates from the "Stokers" who were the blokes who shoveled the coal into the into the old steam engines, when the boilers were full and working at capacity, the workers were stoked and could sit down and have a break. Stokers was a rank used in the Royal Australian Navy, at least up until the 1970's for engine room workers, not sure if it still used now.

'Winge' came from the UK. I know they have been using it since before I was born. I am over 55.

No wuckers 😂😂😂

😂🤣👏👏🏻👏🏻ah mate, your reaction is cracking me up!

In New Zealand, Tall Poppy Syndrome is used to describe the general discourse of our society, and is never used to refer to an individual "having it". Tall poppy syndrome involves situations where someone is afraid to appear successful (playing down their own achievements) because they are cognisant of the fact that others will try to tear them down out of envy and jealousy. It has a similar meaning to "Keep your head down (or it gets chopped off)." The tall poppy is the person who is successful or proud/content of their achievements (not in a boastful way). They are the biggest target for being cut down to everyone else's level. Example: Person 1: "Great job winning the spelling bee" Person 2: "Yeah Nah, just think I got lucky" Person 1: "Don't discount yourself, you practiced for ages" Person 2: "Yeah, true. Just tall poppy syndrome, mate"

Happy arvo! That was a fun one. Onya Ryan! Seeya round like a rissole!

True blue

There goes the mailman right out front of my window that happens literally all the time... its so awkward... fair dinkum ...🤣🤣

When someone is taking longer to do something than necessary, I use, 'Stop fart-arsing around'. I know in written form it doesn't make any sense but the meaning is clear when you say it. 😂

My favourite is a few sheep short in the top paddock

Fair dinkum i a bit kitsch and old fashioned, not used much now. You could reply fair dinkum as a question like "really?" "You should have been at the pub tonight. Fitzy was there." "Fair dinkum?" "Spit the dummy" - yes. I thin you likely got the origin of this one exactly right. There are other versions of this: "chuck a wobbly", "chuck a spaz". "No worries" is very common (much more than "no drama"). It's funny that the definition you found for "whinge" called it a British word, since Aussies can sometimes refer to English people as "whinging Poms". It refers to English people complaining about things, especially in foreign countries, particularly Australia (like complaining about the flies/snakes/spiders/bugs/heat/humidity/lack of culture/food etc etc). I would say that tall poppy syndrome is more relevant to a public figure or group of people, like businessmen, politicians, rather than someone you know. There are alternatives to "have a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock", such as "a sandwich short of a picnic". I think it refers more to being a bit crazy rather than stupid. I would say that "faffing around" is a bit different to "mucking around". "Faffing around" means taking actions that are ineffectual and a waste of time: "Stop faffing around and get that work done", whereas "mucking around" has more of a flavour of having fun but not really achieving much: "Stop mucking around with the dog and get that lawn mown". Some alternatives to "Wood Wood": "Back of Bourke" (a town in outback New South Wales), "beyond the black stump" or "the sticks". I agree with you that "stoked" is not specifically Australian. "Onya" can also be used sarcastically: "Sorry, I broke the vase", "Onya!"

"Good Onya" can be used both sincerely and sarcastically.

A variation on the ‘roos loose in the top paddock’ is ‘If his brains were putty, his windows would fall out’.

When someone says “Fair dinkum” by itself, it probably means “Are you being fair dinkum?”

You could use fair dinkum for your car example, but it would be in disbelief (Are you kidding? You can't be serious asking that much!) or pleasant surprise (Really? that's great!), depending on the tone. Never heard "faffing around".

I read about 18 months ago a US university wants "no worries" as we use it removed from use. Because it's used instead of "you're welcome" but isn't really the same - something like that.

They left this one out.... "well, I'm not here to fuck spiders" = not here for nothing, not here to muck around. NB. I've never said faffing about in my life, and I'm 60.

Haha Ryan trying to guess the meaning of some of those slang terms was pretty funny :) It's weird to me how you can get some so wrong.

While I don't use the phrase, I know what faffing around is. And several folk have already mentioned that some slang changes meaning according to the tone it is said in.

I’m an Aussie mum and say woop woop at least every week 😂. We live in the country so use it to describe a place that isn’t close by.

Happy Thanksgiving, Ryan. I learn something every time I watch your videos e.g. "faffing around".

The voice over on the video is done by Cosi, a great South Ozzie AFL legend, who also has a show 'South Aussie with Cosi' showcasing tourist locations around the state of SA

Americans use "No worries" because of the influx of Australian actors into Hollywood in the 1990s.

You are hilarious. In Oz when we can’t speak properly we say “I’ve got word salad today”.

To spit the dummy meant to throw a tantrum, baby spat the dummy and throw his toys out of the pram 😂

I reckon 'fair dinkum' can probably be used most places where we might say 'legit' today. You can use it as an adjective/adverb or as a response instead of 'really?' or 'for real?'

Woop Woop is beyond the Black Stump

hey Ryan, just so you know "No worries" was adopted by Americans! It originated in Oz! And so you've never heard the expression " having a whinge with your whine"? or "he's a whinging pom" pom being a person from England! have a happy Thanks giving! 😁

Tall Poppy Syndrome is an analogy. It refers to the fact that some poppies become taller than others and sometimes it is said that we like to "cut down tall poppies" because they have risen above the others. More often than not, the "tall poppies" are those who have "risen above" the common crowd, but incurred jealousy rather than support. The top paddock thing has a lot of variations, "Few cards short of a full deck" or "a few ounces short of a pound"

Paddock is grassy field where animals graze.

I don't recall any Aussie using 'faffing around'. I think Brits say it, though.

It's the sharpest tool in the shed.

Tall Poppy Syndrome is when a person is succeeding and the rest of us try to bring them down a peg or two ie cutting the top off the poppy that gets too tall.

A few expressions that perhaps used to be more common than they are now include the following two: (1) "crook" ie feeling unwell eg. "Dave is feeling crook so he won't be coming today". If you are really unwell I have heard the expression "I'm feeling crook as Rookwood". Rookwood is the biggest cemetery in Sydney so when you put crook and Rookwood together you are very sick. (2) A little coarse but the expression "I'm as dry as a dead dingo's donger", which means you are feeling very, very thirsty!!

Faffing around is the more RU-vid friendly version of how its usually said.

7:15 I don't even bother with the "around" bit. I would just say "wouldya stop faffin' and do the dishes!".

That daft bludger is up me clacker, I'm going to have to chuck a uey.

I use Fair Dinkum most days at work.

I'm a fair dinkum Aussie, that's a classic use of that phase.

"No worries" originated in Australia but has been adopted in the U.S in the past 20 or so years. Fair dinkum!

Woop Woop is an actual place.

Thanks

You say words I've never heard of before too. If I went to America I think I would have some trouble with some words. That other word you used for a dummy stumped me. If you ever do get here I live in Bundy (Bundaberg). Would love to meet up. It's where Bundaberg rum is made. They have tours there and then you get a couple of drinks. I reckon hundreds of people would host you and your family. You'd get a free trip. We all love you.

Try "lingo" - at least Aussies will know that's referring to slang/Aussie speak without needing to use the universal term of "slang" (although I'm pretty sure "lingo" isn't only Aussie, but then I thought root was universal too)

I've always liked "A long streak of pelican piss" to describe a very tall / lanky person and "we aren't here to f*** spiders" meaning let's stop mucking around and get down to it (start the job etc)

As an addendum to "No Worries"; we Aussies will also say " No Wucking Furries" or even "No Wukkas" . . . . . you'll work it out.

Fair dinkum can also be used as an expression of frustration - if someone tells you something that is bad news that you maybe predicted would happen - like when you tell your kid not to ride their bicycle on the road and then they do and fall off and hurt themselves and you have to go get them right when you are in the middle of making dinner - so it is almost like sarcastic ‘I don’t believe it’ - because you definitely do believe it.

That's us down here 🇦🇺

"Fair dinkum" differs based on the context. With the example you gave (about the cost of the car), fair dinkum would actually be interpreted as "oh my god" or "geez". "I ran a marathon on the weekend" --> "fair dinkum" = "Wow" "That was a fair dinkum effort" = that was a legit effort "This is fair dinkum football" = this is a genuine proper game of football

Ryan a paddock is an enclosed area where animals are put, to eat grass and to exercise. In Australia they can be acres and acres and Australia can have more than 1 or many paddocks, hence top paddock. Originally from Britain, there it refers to a small enclosed area or field for animals.

When I was at school, it was perceived to be “cool” to smoke. Having been a non smoker all my life, I now know smoking is actually a weakness. Babies use dummies to pacify them. A cigarette is the substitute for an adult.

To spit the dummy is to lose your temper, but to have a whinge is to complain about something. Two different meanings. Tall poppy syndrome is what Aussies sometimes have when someone gets too big for their boots and needs to be cut down to size. When their head gets too big and someone will “lop it off”. “I got a promotion and you didn’t! That’s because I’m better at the job than you, so there!” Feel the need to bring her down a notch? That’s tall poppy syndrome. Where did he go? Out the back of Woop Woop. I won! Good onya!