Q 01/05

Which word, Oxford's Word of the Year for 2013, was first recorded on an Australian internet forum in 2002?

A) Hashtag

B) Podcast

C) Selfie

D) Emoji

Answer · why

C) Selfie

Selfie first appeared in a 2002 post on Dr Karl Kruszelnicki's science forum, where a man apologised for the focus of a photo showing the lip he split...

Q 02/05

An Australian who says 'see you this arvo', a word first recorded in the 1920s, plans to meet at what time?

A) Afternoon

B) Early morning

C) Late evening

D) Midnight

Answer · why

A) Afternoon

Afternoon is what 'arvo' abbreviates, and 'this arvo' is so common it is often squeezed further into 'sarvo'. The word follows the Australian habit of...

Q 03/05

Which beach item, called 'jandals' in New Zealand, do Australians mean when they talk about a pair of 'thongs'?

A) Board shorts

B) Flip-flops

C) Sunglasses

D) Beach towels

Answer · why

B) Flip-flops

Flip-flops are 'thongs' in Australia, where the word Americans use for skimpy underwear means a rubber sandal. New Zealand's 'jandal' began as a trade...

Q 04/05

The Australian invitation 'bring a plate', recorded since the 1920s, often baffles newcomers; what should guests take?

A) Their own crockery

B) A small cash gift

C) Drinks for the host

D) Food to share

Answer · why

D) Food to share

Food to share is what the host expects, and an empty plate will not do. In earlier days the request was often 'ladies a plate', sometimes followed by ...

Q 05/05

Which Australian insult for a fool is traced to a 1920s racehorse that never won in 37 starts?

A) Drongo

B) Galah

C) Boofhead

D) Nong

Answer · why

A) Drongo

Drongo the horse ran second in a VRC Derby yet never won a race. After he retired, racegoers used his name for unlucky horses, then for hopeless peopl...