• Unknown Nichigo

    Bonzer Bonsai!

    Given that this site started with the intent of spreading information about Japan and Australia and matters related to these countries, including languages, and then how much focus I have placed on gardening over the past couple of years, it’s surprising that I haven’t had much to say about bonsai. Or bonzer, for that matter. Bonsai is, of course, the Japanese art of miniature tree growing in trays: the literal meaning of the word bon (tray) sai (gro/cultivate). And, despite having written a Strine Dictionary, or list of Australian English terms, one of its notable absentees is the word bonzer,…

  • Strine

    Crikey! What’s Going On Here?

    Crikey, Kangaeroo.com is colder than ever before and I’ve got no explanation for what is happening. Let’s get one thing straight, first: Kangaeroo.com has never been hot! This website started in March 2010 together with a sister site (now defunct) called Yutairui.com, which had a record of attracting more than 35,000 visits in a single day not long after it opened, but was shut down by a DDoS later that same year. Kangaeroo.com, to the best of my knowledge, has never had more than five visitors in a single day! This site, centered on the Strine Dictionary, was supposed to…

  • Strine - Strine Dictionary 豪語辞書 - Strine Strife - やばいリンガル

    「やばいリンガル」 Flog (鞭打ちする)

    米・英語では誰かをflogすると鞭打ちするという意味だ。しかし、オージー英語では何かをflogするという意味になる。まさか鞭打ちしっぱなしじゃないよね?どのように違うのか見よう。 To flog someone in English as it is spoken in most countries would mean to whip them. But in Strine, the word also has additional meanings. Read on to find out what they are.

  • Strine

    Zed/Z

    Zed Australian English Z, the final letter of the alphabet. In Australian English (like the English used in every other Commonwealth country except Canada and as the language is taught in Japan), the final letter of the alphabet is pronounced “zed.” In North American English, the final letter is pronounced “zee.”

  • Strine

    Yabber, yack/ベラベラしゃべる

    Yabber, yack Australian English To talk, usually used in the context of speaking excessively and without great meaning. To babble on. 日本語 ベラベラしゃべる。ほとんどの場合、「しゃべり過ぎ」や「意味のない片言ばかり」の話をする。 Plain English To babble, blabber or rave. Strine Dictionary

  • Strine

    Wobbly/かんしゃくを起こす

    Wobbly Australian English To throw a temper tantrum. It can also be used to refer to a staggering drunk. 日本語 1. かんしゃくを起こす。 2. ふらふらで歩き回る酔っぱらっている人。 Plain English 1. A temper tantrum or hissy fit. 2. A drunk. Strine Dictionary

  • Strine

    Wag/サボる

    Wag Australian English To skip a class (usually school, but also college), play truant or hookey. 日本語 サボる。ずる休みをする。ほとんどの場合、学校に関してしか使わない。直訳すると、wagは、(尻尾を)「振ること」という意味。 Plain English To skip class, be a truant, or play hookey. Strine Dictionary

  • Strine

    Veg out/ボーっとする

    Veg out Australian English To relax without thinking, to be in a “vegetative” state. 日本語 ボーっとする。無感覚状態。厳密に言えばveg outは、「植物のようになる」という意味だ。 Plain English Mindlessly. Relax without thinking. To be in a stupor. Strine Dictionary