Australian English dictionary

Browse A–Z

• shonky

  adjective

  Unreliable, dishonest or of poor quality.

  Avoid shonky repairs on your car.

• short black

  noun

  A single espresso served without milk.

  He drinks a short black after lunch.

• shout

  noun

  A round of drinks or refreshments paid for by one person in a group.

  It is my shout for coffee today.

• shout

  verb

  To pay for another person's drink or meal, often as part of taking turns.

  I will shout you lunch after the meeting.

• show and tell

  noun

  A classroom activity where young children bring something to show and talk about.

  He took his toy kangaroo for show and tell.

• sick leave

  noun

  Leave from work due to illness, according to applicable entitlements.

  She requested sick leave for Monday.

• sickie

  noun

  A day off work taken as sick leave, sometimes when not actually ill.

  He took a sickie on Friday.

• silverbeet

  noun

  A leafy vegetable similar to chard.

  The garden has plenty of silverbeet.

• skilled visa

  noun

  A visa for workers with skills needed in Australia, often requiring a skills assessment.

  He applied for a skilled visa as an electrician.

• skills assessment

  noun

  An official check of whether your qualifications and experience meet Australian standards, often needed for visas.

  An engineer may need a skills assessment for a skilled visa.

• skin cancer clinic

  noun

  A healthcare clinic offering skin cancer assessment services.

  He booked a check at a skin cancer clinic.

• skite

  verb

  To boast or brag.

  Stop skiting about your new car.

• slip slop slap

  phrase

  An Australian sun-safety slogan encouraging clothing, sunscreen and a hat.

  We learnt Slip, Slop, Slap at school.

• small claims

  noun

  A simple low-cost court or tribunal process for settling small money disputes.

  He took the builder to small claims for the unpaid refund.

• smart meter

  noun

  A digital meter that records energy use and sends readings automatically.

  The smart meter shows when we use the most power.

• smoke alarm

  noun

  A device that sounds a warning when it detects smoke; required in homes by law.

  Test your smoke alarm every month.

• smoko

  noun

  Short break during work.

  The crew had smoko at ten.

• snag

  noun

  Sausage, especially one cooked on a barbecue.

  Would you like a snag in bread?

• sole trader

  noun

  A person carrying on a business in their own name rather than through a company.

  She registered as a sole trader.

• sook

  noun

  A person seen as overly sensitive or inclined to complain.

  He called himself a sook for avoiding the cold water.

• sook

  verb

  To sulk or complain in a childish way.

  Don't sook about the result.

• spag bol

  noun

  Spaghetti bolognese.

  We're having spag bol for dinner.

• sparky

  noun

  Electrician.

  We called a sparky to check the wiring.

• special consideration

  noun

  An adjustment such as an extension given when illness or hardship affects a student's study.

  He applied for special consideration after being sick.

• specialist

  noun

  A doctor trained in a particular area of medicine, such as a cardiologist.

  The specialist ordered more tests.