Working in construction you will hear what seems like an infinite amount of Tradie sayings. All of which have been shortened in some way to barely represent what they actually mean.  Some of them can be pretty crude and generally politically incorrect, but for the most part the rest are pretty amazing.

 

Smoko

“Time for smoko break?”

Means: A break used on a construction site. There are no limits on the number of times a bloke can take smoko.

 

Blowing the froth off a few

“Let’s go blow the froth off a few.”

Means: Drinking alcohol

 

Chuck a sickie

“Yeah, I’m just gonna chuck a sickie.”

Means: Taking a day off work without necessarily being sick

 

Dog’s breakfast

“Mate, what have you been doin’ that looks like a dogs breakfast.”

Means: A mess or complicated situation

 

Bender

“Last night was an absolute bender!”

Means: A big weekend of partying.

 

Yeah, nah

Means: No.

 

She’ll be right

“She’ll be right mate.”

Means: Everything will be fine. In no way is this gender specific.

 

Taking the piss

“Are you taking the piss, mate?”

Means: To make fun of someone or something in a light hearted way

 

Have a captain cook

“Go have a captain cook up the road.”

Means: To have a look, brief inspection.

 

Spit the dummy

“Yeah mate, he just spit the dummy.”

Means: He’s about to get upset or in truth already has.

 

Chuck a u-ey

“Just chuck a u-ey up here.”

Means: Do a u-turn.

 

Mate

Means: Pretty well anyone you’re talking to. Not to be confused with Maaaaate which can be an expression for shock or anger.

 

Pull ya head in

“Would you just pull ya head in?”

Means: Mind your own business

 

Have a squiz

“Have a squiz at this.”

Means: Take a look

 

­­Flat out

“Flat out like a lizard drinking.”

Means: you’re real busy.

 

Balls it up

“Don’t balls it up.”

Meaning: don’t stuff up

 

I’m not here to f#%k spiders.

“Let’s get started mate, I’m not here to f#%k spiders.”

Means: I’m not here to waste time.

 

Bloody oath

“Wanna hit the pub this arovo? Bloady oath!”

Means: absolutely, 100% yes.

 

Like a pick-pocket at a nudist camp.

“He acted  like a pick pocket in a nudist camp.”

Means: He didn’t understand.

 

 To have a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock

“He must have a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock if he thinks he can finish that marathon” 

Means: To not be right in the head, to have a screw loose.

 

 You’re a plum

“Mate, you’re a plum.”

Means:  someone who is an idiot.

 

To drink with the flies

“Guess I’ll just go to the bottle-o and drink with the flies tonight”

Means: to drink alone, all by yourself.

 

 Woop woop

“It’s gonna be a long drive, he lives in woop woop, mate.”

Means: the middle of nowhere

 

The Harold Holt

“He’s done the Harold Holt again”

 Means: Someone that disappears.

 

He’s dreamin’

“Go tell him he’s dreamin’”

Means: you’re being unrealistic.

 

All over it like a fat kid on a cake

Means: Someone that is very excited

 

Tosser

“What a tosser!”

Means: What a jerk