Australian English dictionary

Browse A–Z

• hard hat

  noun

  A protective helmet worn at worksites.

  Everyone wore a hard hat during the inspection.

• hard rubbish

  noun

  Large household waste set out for special council collection.

  Check the council dates for hard rubbish.

• hard yakka

  noun

  Hard physical work.

  Digging the garden was hard yakka.

• hardship program

  noun

  Help offered by a company to customers who are struggling to pay bills.

  Ask your energy retailer about its hardship program.

• hazard perception test

  noun

  A computer test that checks whether you can spot dangers on the road.

  Learners must pass the hazard perception test.

• healthdirect

  noun

  A free government health information line and website staffed by registered nurses.

  Call healthdirect if you're not sure whether to see a doctor.

• heaps

  adverb

  A lot; very much.

  Thanks heaps for helping.

• heatwave warning

  noun

  An official warning about a period of unusually hot weather.

  The council shared the heatwave warning.

• HECS-HELP

  noun

  Australian student loan scheme for eligible higher education students.

  He checked his HECS-HELP balance.

• hi-vis

  noun

  High-visibility safety clothing.

  Wear hi-vis when entering the worksite.

• high school

  noun

  Secondary school, usually from Year 7 to Year 12.

  She is in Year 9 at the local high school.

• holding deposit

  noun

  A small payment to hold a rental property while the paperwork is finalised.

  They paid a holding deposit after their application was approved.

• homeschooling

  noun

  Educating children at home instead of at school, which requires registration.

  Homeschooling families must register with the state.

• hook turn

  noun

  A type of right turn made from the left side of an intersection, used at certain Melbourne intersections.

  Drivers must follow the hook turn signs.

• hoon

  noun

  A person who drives dangerously or behaves loudly and recklessly.

  Police fined the hoons doing burnouts.

• hospital cover

  noun

  Private health insurance that pays towards treatment as a private patient in hospital.

  Hospital cover can reduce waiting times for some surgery.

• HSC

  noun

  The Higher School Certificate, the final school qualification in New South Wales.

  The HSC exams start in October.