야유, 욕설, 스펙터클한 플레이: 호주 스포츠 용어 | Ep 5

호주인들이 야유를 처음 시작했을까요? 마지막 에피소드에서 하위 만스 박사는 놀이와 관련된 언어가 어떻게 정체성과 변화, 그리고 공동체를 반영하는지 탐구합니다.

Weird and Wonderful Aussie English 는 호주 속어의 역사와 의미, 그리고 진화를 탐구하는 5부작 비디오 시리즈입니다.

링크:

대본

You're at your first Aussie sports match.
The crowd is shouting, the players are yelling — and you’re doing your best to understand...
but it all sounds so weird!

Hi, I’m Dr. Howie Manns.
I study language and how people use it.

After moving to Australia, I fell in love with AFL football.
But I was shocked by the way Aussies talk about sport — on and off the field.
It isn’t always polite.
But once I understood it, I found more ways to join in the fun.

Not-so-polite passion for sport

In Australia, being a little rude during sport is part of the game.
Let’s start with cricket.

Back in 1877, Australia and Britain played their first official Test series.
Australia shocked Britain by holding them to a draw —
and then winning the Third Test.

Tensions rose.
At one match, a controversial umpire call led to an Aussie crowd storming the field.
A British player called them “Sons of convicts!”

This moment tells us two key things:
  • Australians love the underdog.
  • And we don’t always play it cool under pressure.

Sledging and sportsmanship

One of Australia’s most famous sports terms is sledging —
on-field banter meant to distract or intimidate your opponent.

The term came about in the 1960s or ’70s, likely from the word “sledgehammer”
(as in, “subtle as a sledgehammer”).

Sledging can be friendly — or harsh.
Cricket legend Shane Warne (a.k.a. Warnie) said it’s about timing,
and not every sledge is meant to hurt.

Footy talk: Aussie rules and colourful language

I’m an AFL fan — go, Doggies — so let’s talk footy.

We’ve called it “Aussie Rules” since World War I.
In fact, we started saying “Aussie” around the same time.

Footy is full of expressive phrases:
  • “Give him the don’t argue” – a player pushes away an opponent with an outstretched arm.
  • “Selling the candy” – faking out an opponent by pretending to pass.
  • “Blinder” – a spectacular play or performance.
We even name moments after athletes.
Steven Bradbury became a legend by winning gold when everyone else fell.
Now we say someone “did a Bradbury” if they win unexpectedly.

And of course, there’s the chant:
“Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, oi, oi!”
Made famous during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Underdogs, jokes, and “a bit of a hit”

Aussies love a humble winner.
Even top athletes downplay their success in interviews.
We love the underdog — and we love not taking ourselves too seriously.

If a game’s just for fun, we might say:
“Just having a bit of a hit” or “a bit of a knock.”

That phrase — “a bit of” — is uniquely Aussie.
It shows we’re being casual, playful, even self-deprecating.
Check for teaching resources

Teaching Aussie slang and idioms

Sport is everywhere — even at work

Sport is more than play in Australia — it's part of the culture.
It shows up in everyday talk and even in the office.
  • “Opening the batting” = starting a meeting
  • “Shirtfront” = confronting someone head-on (even in politics)
  • “Handball” = passing a task on to someone else
Whether on the field or in the boardroom, Aussies love a bit of slang and banter.

Sport connects us

Sport connects Australians — even when we disagree about the game.

We joke with teammates.
We cheer in the stands.
We argue about the score at the pub.

This shared language makes us feel like part of a team —
on and off the field.

Language keeps evolving

Aussie English is always changing.
New words arrive. Old ones fade.

And our sports language reflects that evolution.

Understanding the past — from sledging to shirtfronts — helps us feel more at home here.

So stay curious.
Because sometimes, those weird sports words
can open the door to a wonderful life in Australia.

Credits

Video production company: New Mac Video Agency

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Presented by Howard Manns
Source: SBS

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