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Kiwi slang and idiom
New Zealanders will use words and expressions that are not considered standard English. This is New Zealand idiom - Kiwi slang or Kiwi talk. Some idiom is unique to New Zealand and some has been adopted or modified from terms used in other English speaking countries.
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Across the ditch = across the Tasman Sea to Australia
Ad = Advertisement
Anklebiter = a small child
Aussie = Australian
Aotearoa = land of the long white cloud (Maori name for New Zealand)
Away laughing = to do without problems
Away with the fairies = day dream, on another planet
A few logs short of a barbie = a bit crazy
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Banger = sausage
Barbie = BBQ
Basin = bathroom sink
Bassinet = baby cradle
Bach = small holiday house
Beaut = great, good fun
Bench = kitchen counter
Big bikkies = lots of money
Bikie = member of motorbike gang
Biscuit = cookie
Bloke = ordinary guy/man
Bludge = take unfair advantage to get something for nothing
Bob each way = supporting both opposing sides
Bob's your uncle = that's all there is to it
Bollocks = disbelief
Bonnet = car engine hood
Boo-eye = remote or non-existent place
Boot = car trunk
Boy-racer = young man who drives fast and aggressively in high powered car
Brassed off = disappointed, annoyed
Bring a plate = bring food on a plate or dish to share with others
Bro = male person (friend or stranger)
Bugger all = very little, not much
Buggered = exhausted, broken
Bush = forest or scrub land
Bush shirt = woollen outdoors' shirt
Bust your gut = make an intense effort
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Capping = university graduation ceremony
Cardie = cardigan (jersey with buttons up the front)
Carked it = died
Catch ya = goodbye, see you later (even if you won't meet again)
Catch ya later = goodbye and will see you at a later time
Cheers = thanks, goodbye, good luck ("cheers mate")
Cheerio = goodbye; a small sausage
Chemist = pharmacy, drug store
Chilly bin = portable insulated cooler box
Chips = crisps
Chippy = carpenter
Choc-a-block = full to overflowing
Choice = good, excellent
Chook = chicken
Chunder = vomit
College = high school
Cop-out = poor excuse
Cool = OK, fantastic - reflects lifestyle, image etc.
Cow-cocky = dairy farmer
Cracker = very good
Creek = stream
Crash-hot = excellent
Crib = a small holiday home in the South Island, bach
Crikey-dick = expression of surprise
Crook = sick, unwell or a criminal
Cuppa = Cup of tea
Cuz (cuzzy) = cousin or other family relation
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Dairy = small shop selling dairy products, confectionery, food etc.
Dag = someone who is funny, joker
Daylight robbery = overpriced
Dear = expensive
Dick = (Dick-head) a foolish and difficult person (normally male)
Dodgy = can't be trusted
Dork = a foolish and difficult person
Dreaded lurgy = sick, unwell
Dunny = toilet
Duvet = Bed quilt (feather inner with removable cover)
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Even-stevens = both parties are equal in rewards and losses
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Fair dinkum = true, no lies
Fair enough = it's acceptable with me
Fair go = appeal for fairness (give us a break)
Fence sitter = person who is undecided
Fizzy drink = soda pop
Flash = smart looking
Flat = apartment
Flatmate = someone sharing a flat
Flat out = full speed
Flat stick = full speed
Flatty = tyre puncture
Flicks = movies, pictures
Freezing works = meat processing factory
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Gawk = to stare, take a look at
Get off the grass = disbelief
Gidday = hello
Give us a bell = make a phone call to us
Give us a break = appeal for fairness (fair-go)
Good as gold = everything is OK
Good as silver = not quite as good as gold
Good nick = good condition
Gone bush = go somewhere without being found
Greasies = takeaway food (fish and chips)
Gross = horrible, scungy, lousy
Grouse = good, excellent, impressive
Guts for garters = in big trouble
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Half pai = not good enough (pai [Maori] = good, suitable)
Hangi = traditional Maori earth oven
Hard case = funny, unusual, a dag, joker
Hard yakka = labouring hard
Heaps = lots of
Hire = rent
Hit the sack = go to bed
Hokey-pokey = pieces of golden sugar candy
Home-n-hosed = successfully completed, safe
Honky dory = everything is fine
Hoon = young man who drives fast and aggressively in high powered car
Hooray = goodbye, exclamation of pleasure
Hosed off = really upset
Hosing down = raining heavily
Hottie = Hot water bottle
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Ice block = frozen confectionery on a stick
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Jaffas = confectionary sweet. Orange flavoured shell covers a ball of creamy chocolate
Jandals = thongs/flip-flop footwear
Jerk = stupid person
Jersey = sweater
Joker = man or guy
Jolly good = wonderful
Jumper = sweater
Judder bar = speed bump
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Kai = food (Maori)
Kia ora = Maori greeting - hi, hello, thanks
Kick the bucket = die
Kindy = kindergarten
Kip = a short sleep, nap
Kiwi = a New Zealander, NZ native flightless bird
Kiwi fruit = brown fuzzy/furry skinned fruit with green flesh
Knackered = tired, broken
Kumara = A type of sweet potato unique to NZ
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L&P = Lemon and Paeroa. A refeshing soft drink. The label on the bottle says - World famous in New Zealand
Lift = elevator
Local rag = local newspaper
Lolly = confectionery to be sucked
Long drop = outdoor toilet built over a hole in the ground
Loo = toilet
Lounge = living room
Lousy = horrible, scungy, gross
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Marmite = yeast extract spread high in Vitamin B (similar to Vegemite)
Marnis = someone who has done something stupid (same as Wally)
Mate = friend or stranger (male)
Mates rates = special (reduced) price for selling product or service to friends
Metal road = road with gravel surface
Mobile = mobile phone, cell phone
Morning tea = short break from work mid-morning
Mr Whippy = van that sells ice cream cones
Munted = damaged beyond repair
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Nana = grandmother
Nana-ed = intoxicated
Nappy = diaper
Narna = banana
Nap = a short sleep, kip
Neck of the woods = area where one lives
Nick = steal
Nick away = to leave quickly and without notice
No.8 wire = 8 gauge wire used on NZ farms for fences
No sweat = not a problem, easy
No worries = not a problem, easy
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OE = overseas experience (working holiday abroad)
Oi = call to attention
Oz = Australia
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Pack a sad = become moody, ill humoured
Paddock = field
Pakaru-ed = broken, worn out
Pakeha = Maori term for person of European descent
Panelbeater = car body repair shop
Pants = trousers
Pavlova/Pav = A meringue cake covered in cream and decorated with seasonal fresh fruit
Pictures = movies
Pikelet = small pancake
Piker = person who gives up easily or does not join-in the activity
Plonk = cheap wine
Pong = bad smell
Prang = minor vehicle accident
Premo = good, excellent, choice
Pudding = dessert course of a meal
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Rack off = go away (angry expression)
Rattle your dags = hurry up
Rellies = family relatives
Ring = make call on telephone
Ripped off = cheated
Rough as guts = shabby, not finished
Rubber = eraser, vehicle tyres
Rubbish = nonsense, trash or garbage
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Sandshoes = canvas sneaker footwear
Scungy = grungy, horrible, lousy, gross
Section = plot of land
See ya = goodbye, see you later (even if you won't meet again)
Serviette = table napkin
Shank's pony = walking
She'll be right = it will be OK, not a problem
Sheila = woman (Australian expression)
Sickie = time off work and apparently sick
Singlet = vest
Sitting on the fence = can't make up your mind
Skivvy = shirt with polo neck
Skint = short of money
Smidgen = small bit or amount
Smirting = flirting between smokers
Smoko = short break from work
Snarler = sausage
Snurdge = small bit or amount (same as smidgen)
Sook = a very timid person
Sparkie = an electrician
Squiz = look, examine
State house = rental house owned by government
Stapped for cash = low on money
Stink = expression of annoyance
Stone the crows = expression of amazement and surprise
Stuffed = tired or worn out
Stuffed up = made a mistake
Sunnies = sunglasses
Supper = last meal snack of the day when dinner is not the last
Suss = to figure out
Sussed out = understood
Sweet as = excellent, very satisfactory
Swimming togs = swim suit
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Ta = thanks
Take-aways = food eaten off premises (take-out food)
Take a hike = go away
Tangi = funeral ceremony (Maori)
Tata = goodbye
Tea = evening meal
Teatime = evening meal time
Thing'immy = someone whose name you have forgotton (who'dackie)
Tiki tour = scenic tour, indirect way of going somewhere or nowhere
Tin foil = aluminium foil
Tip = garbage dump
Tit for tat = retaliation
Togs = swim suit
Trolley = shopping cart
Truckie = truck driver
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Uni = university
Up the creek = in a wrong direction
Ute = small pickup truck
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Varsity = university
Vegemite = yeast extract spread high in Vitamin B (similar to Marmite)
Verge = grass strip at side of road
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Wally = someone who has done something stupid (same as Marnis)
Warrant of fitness (WOF) = formal car-safety check
Wharfie = cargo handler for shipping (stevedore)
Who'dackie = someone whose name you have forgotton (thing'immy)
Whinge = moan, complain
Wicked = exceptional, excellent
Wobbly (throw a wobbly) = become angry
Wonky = crooked, weird
Wops = rural areas
Wop wops = rural areas
Whanau = family
Wuss = timid
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Yonks = a long time ago
Yack = conversation between friends or aquaintances
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Zed = the letter 'Z'
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