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Yep, that’s right. ‘Pass the dead horse’ actually means something to Australians – something other than walking by/picking up and moving a horse carcass.
‘Dead horse’ is Australian rhyming slang for ‘tomato sauce’. There are a lot of examples of rhyming slang – ‘Joe Blake’ for snake, ‘trouble and strife’ for wife – but these are rarely used today by Australia’s younger generations, especially not in the cities.
Nevertheless, there are quite a few Australian slang terms that are used by everyone – young and old. Here is a smattering of the most common Aussie slang, some terms more regional than others. Hopefully by learning these you’ll save yourself from the otherwise inevitable awkward moments…
AFL = Australian Football League
arvo = afternoon
Aussie = Australian
Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi oi oi = a patriotic chant used particularly at sporting events
Aussie rules = AFL football
barbie = barbeque
barrack = cheer someone/something on (‘He barracks for Collingwood footy club’)
bathers = bathing suit
bikkie = biscuit/cookie
bloke = man
bloody oath = very true
bludger = a lazy person
bogan = this is a tricky one to explain. The word is used to describe a particular variety of Australian – something along the lines of a ‘chav’ (UK) or ‘white-trash’ (US), but the Aussie version much subtler and more varied.
bottle shop / bottle-O = liquor store
booze bus = police van set up to test the blood’s alcohol and drug levels
brekkie = breakfast
bowled over = surprised
budgie = budgerigar
budgie smugglers = Speedos (men’s bathing suit)
bung = broken (Aboriginal origin)
bush = rural areas, forest
BYO = bring your own (usually refers to alcoholic drinks)
cab sav = cabernet sauvignon
cactus = dead, broken
capsicum = (bell) peppers
cask = cask/box wine (‘Can you buy a cask?’)
chewy = chewing gum
chips = can be either french fries or crisps
chook = chicken
cleanskin = unbranded wine
cocky = cockatoo
cooee = a call (‘He’s within cooee.’ Aboriginal origin.)
dag = a funny person (‘She’s a total dag’)
daggy = out of fashion (‘Those pants are so daggy’)
deadset = completely, true (‘He was deadset against it’ = ‘He was completely against it’)
deadshit = a boring/unsuccessful person
dero = a derelict person
didge = didgeridoo
dill = silly person
dropkick = an idiot
dunno = ‘I don’t know’
dunny = toilet
esky = insulated food and drink container
fair dinkum = true/genuine (‘You fair dinkum?’ = ‘Are you being genuine?’)
fair go = to be given a fair chance
flat white = espresso with milk
footpath = pavement/sidewalk
footy = AFL football
full-on = intense (‘That movie was full-on.’)
g’day = hello
goon = cask wine
hard yakka = hard work (Aboriginal origin)
heaps = a lot
hoon = dangerous driver
icy pole = Popsicle
iffy = suspicious
journo = journalist
jumper = sweater/pullover
kanga = kangaroo
mate = friend
mozzies = mosquitoes
no worries = it’s no problem
ocker = stereotypically Australian (usually refers to men – ‘He’s a real ocker bloke’)
op shop = second-hand clothes store
overseas = refers to any country other than Australia (‘Are you from overseas?’)
pants = trousers
pot (of beer) = 285 ml glass (half a pint)
roo = kangaroo
sav blonk = sauvignon blanc
she’ll be right = it will be ok
slip-slop-slap = the catchphrase to describe applying sunscreen
snag = can mean either a sausage or a problem (‘I’ll have another snag’ or ‘We hit a snag’)
spit the dummy = have a tantrum
Strine = ‘Australian’ said using a thick Australian accent (usually refers to Australian slang, e.g. ‘He spoke Strine’)
stumped = nonplussed
sunnies = sunglasses
take a crack = have a try
tall poppy = successful person
thongs = flip-flops
tucker = food
undies = underwear
uni = university
ute = utility/pickup truck
veg out = relax
wuss = coward
yobbo = a boorish person
V
Read more about Australian slang on Wikipedia and at Koala Net.
PS If you have any to add, feel free to chuck a comment in the box below…
V
the melbourne local 
Billy = kettle, cuppa = cup of tea, dog & bone = phone, stubbie = small bottle of beer, idiot box = TV, olds = parents, and the list goes on…great post
Nice additions!
Cheers!
piffin yonnies = throwing stones
Haha, really? Never heard that one before!
Showing your age… or lack of it, youngster!
So it seems roughly the 1/3-century mark is the age requirement to be familiar with that term… 😉
Very useful, thank you!
I’m surrounded by tomato sauce here on the tomato farm but haven’t heard anyone say “pass the dead horse” yet. I’m going to try it out at dinner tonight 🙂
They call me a “pommie sheila” here. I think they mean it in an affectionate way!
‘Sheila’ — that’s one I forgot to include! Here’s a tip: pronounce ‘dead horse’ as ‘dead-orse’. They’ll understand you that way. 🙂
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Crack the shits.
Aha, nice one. For all the non-Aussies out there, ‘to crack the shits’ means to get annoyed/angry. (‘I told her she couldn’t do it and she completely cracked the shits with me.’)
I used to work for a company that had a US office and it was certainly interesting when we spoke with the ‘slang’ in our everyday conversations to them. Shortly followed with ‘can you please speak american as you aussies have a language of your own’
‘Can you help me find my other thong’ is one that always sends non-Aussies into either peals of laughter or terribly awkward silence!