WHY DO AUSSIES CALL THEM THONGS? The word THONG means restraint, referred to as the piece of rubber that is used to slide between the big and second toe to keep the soul of the sandal.
The reason they were called thongs is because they consist of a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a Y-shaped strap known as a toe thong that passes between the first and second toes and around both sides of the foot.
The shoe known in Australia as a “thong” is one of the oldest styles of footwear in the world. Worn with small variations across Egypt, Rome, Greece, sub-Saharan Africa, India, China, Korea, Japan and some Latin American cultures, the shoe was designed to protect the sole while keeping the top of the foot cool.
In the USA a thong is a piece of underwear. In Australia, it's what they call flip-flops. Sometimes they also call them "double-pluggers".
One of the most infamous Australian idiosyncrasies is the word for flip flop: the 'thong'.
'Gumboots' And 'Jandals'
Both are colloquial, loveable Kiwi icons. The Gumboot is not some type of gummy candy, it's simply your wellies or Wellington Boots to use the proper term. A Jandal is your equivalent of a flip-flop or thong (ask the Aussie's for their answer on thongs!).
Jandals: Flip flops/thongs. A bit like going barefoot, which Kiwis love!
The undergarment is usually called a g-string (or colloquially, bum floss) in Australia, however, due to U.S. influences in Australia the word thong is now also used.
bathers – the most common term in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and occasionally in other states. From bathing suit. boardies – short for board shorts. cossie or cozzie – from "swimming costume"; usage of this name is generally restricted to New South Wales.
Depending on which country you are from, you may use the term, woollen sweater, wool jumper, pullover or jersey – they can all be used when referring to a wool jumper, woollen jumper Australia, knitwear Australia or woollen sweaters. Woolen jumpers Australia are what we know as a woollen pullover.
Thongs are “flip flops” or “bangers” to the Yanks, “double pluggers” to us and “jandals” to the Kiwis, who get naming rights because it appears a Kiwi, Maurice Yock, patented the ancient design back in 1957.
They were interchangeably referred to as “thongs” until sometime in the 1980s, at which point that word came to stand solely for a well-known style of underwear. Flip-flops in rubber, and later in plastic, were an obvious hit for beach-goers.
The short answer is no, it's not illegal to drive in thongs in Australia. There are no laws in any state that specifically prohibit any type of footwear while driving. That means you can drive in thongs, sneakers, or work boots. However, you do need to stay in control of your vehicle at all times.
Jandals – whether you call them flip flops or thongs where you come from, the perennial summer footwear favourite is called a jandal in NZ. They are one step up from going bare foot (which Kiwis do a lot!) and often look pretty battered!
They are also called thongs (sometimes pluggers) in Australia, jandals (originally a trademarked name derived from "Japanese sandals") in New Zealand, slops or “plakkies” in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and tsinelas in the Philippines (or, in some Visayan localities, "smagol", from the word smuggled).
Rubber thongs were a recognised anti-establishment symbol in the 1960s and 1970s, known as bangers and double pluggers, they epitomised an unpretentious and egalitarian society and reached iconic status. Australians embraced them heart and sole!
Australian English: I need to buy new pyjamas! US English: I need to buy new pajamas! As such, you'll only need the 'a' spelling for people in the USA. If you struggle with these spellings, though, just imagine that the second 'a' in 'pajamas' stands for America and you'll know which one to use!
In Australia “Noahs Ark” is rhyming slang that means shark, and big Noah pictured here is one of the most formidable specimens of ultimate “sharkness” represented anywhere.
Here in Australia, however, McDonald's most prevalent nickname is “Macca's”. A recent branding survey commissioned by McDonald's Australia found that 55 per cent of Australians refer to the company by its local slang name.
Instead of calling them "boots" or something, Aussie's call them "RMs," "Blundstones," or "Rossis." They are truly ubiquitous.
In Australia a stockman (plural stockmen) is a person who looks after the livestock on a large property known as a station, which is owned by a grazier or a grazing company, traditionally on horseback. In this sense it has a similar meaning to "cowboy".
In North America, Australia, South Africa and North West England pants is the general category term, whereas trousers (sometimes slacks in Australia and North America) often refers more specifically to tailored garments with a waistband, belt-loops, and a fly-front.
The meaning of chur is essentially thank you. You can use this classic Kiwi slang to show gratitude or appreciation. As explained above, it can also mean "sweet as" or "that's awesome".
Vowel Play In The New Zealand Accent
While an Australian will claim their “feesh and cheeps” are tops, New Zealanders will tell you their “fush and chups” takes the cake. You see, we Kiwis turn our short I-sounds into U's, so “fish” becomes fush and “chips” sounds more like chups.
This vowel is famously expressed in the different way New Zealanders and Australians pronounce 'fish and chips' – a fast-food dish common in both countries. It is commonly claimed that New Zealanders say 'fush and chups' and Australians say 'feesh and cheeps'.