Australian English dictionary

Browse A–Z

• parking meter

  noun

  A machine where you pay for street parking for a set time.

  The parking meter accepts cards and apps.

• parma

  noun

  A common Australian shortened name for chicken parmigiana.

  The pub serves a chicken parma on Tuesdays.

• parmi

  noun

  A regional Australian shortened name for chicken parmigiana.

  She ordered a parmi with chips.

• part-time

  adjective

  Working fewer hours than full-time on a regular basis, with paid leave on a pro-rata basis.

  He works part-time while studying.

• partner visa

  noun

  A visa for the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

  They lodged a partner visa application with evidence of their relationship.

• pash

  noun / verb

  A long passionate kiss; to kiss passionately.

  They had a pash at the party.

• passed in

  phrase

  Not sold at auction because bidding did not meet the reserve or other conditions.

  The house was passed in at auction.

• pathology

  noun

  Laboratory tests on blood or other samples; also the place that does these tests.

  Take the form to a pathology collection centre.

• pav

  noun

  Short for pavlova, a meringue dessert.

  Mum made a pav for Christmas.

• pavlova

  noun

  A dessert with a crisp meringue shell and soft centre, often topped with fruit.

  We shared a pavlova at Christmas.

• PAYG withholding

  noun

  A system where payers withhold amounts from certain payments for income tax purposes.

  The payroll report shows PAYG withholding.

• PayID

  noun

  A simple identifier such as a phone number or email linked to a bank account so people can pay you quickly.

  You can pay me by PayID using my mobile number.

• payroll

  noun

  The process of paying employees, or the department that does it.

  Ask payroll why your super wasn't paid.

• payslip

  noun

  Written record of wages and deductions for a pay period.

  Check the hours shown on your payslip.

• PBS

  noun

  Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which subsidises certain prescription medicines.

  The medicine is listed on the PBS.

• penalty rates

  noun

  Higher rates of pay that may apply for certain hours or types of work.

  Weekend shifts may attract penalty rates.

• performance review

  noun

  A regular meeting where a manager discusses how well an employee is doing.

  Her performance review is in December.

• periodic tenancy

  noun

  A tenancy that continues without a fixed end date, subject to applicable law.

  Their lease changed to a periodic tenancy.

• permanent residency

  noun

  A visa status that lets a non-citizen live, work and study in Australia indefinitely.

  She was granted permanent residency after four years.

• permission slip

  noun

  A form parents sign to allow their child to attend an activity.

  Return the permission slip by Friday.

• personal leave

  noun

  Leave for personal illness or caring responsibilities, subject to entitlements.

  Check your personal leave balance.

• pest inspection

  noun

  An inspection for pests or pest damage affecting a property.

  The report recommended a pest inspection.

• pet application

  noun

  A request to the landlord to keep a pet in a rental property.

  They attached a pet application for their cat.

• pharmacist

  noun

  A trained professional who prepares and gives out medicines and gives advice about them.

  Ask the pharmacist about side effects.

• phishing

  noun

  Fake emails or messages that try to trick you into giving passwords or bank details.

  The phishing email looked like it came from the bank.