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ChrisE, I'd forgotten about those. I've never liked 'arvo' - it's ungainly!

ChrisE, Malone . .

"Ute" has virtually replaced "tilly" (utility truck)

When "stubbies" took their place beside "tinnies" in the '60's' they were known as "stumpies" where I lived, but the easier to pronounce name soon prevailed

Arvo = arvie = arv

Some abbreviations from the racetrack: Quaddie (Quadrella), Tri (Trifecta), Quinnie (Quinella)

Other abbreviations (and examples may not be as common as I had thought): "Nasho" (National Service), "Myxo" (Myxomatosis . . a disease introduced to control the rabbit plague), "Wal" (policeman . . from 'walloper' = rhyming slang for 'copper') . . Possibly used in 'The Old Country' (thanks Grandma) as well

Thanks, Hannah. I like the 'wal', policeman. Some of the rhyming slang things are so based in the past, it could be hard to remember their origins. I read online that Australians love sticking 'o' on words - your 'nasho' and 'myxo', for example, and I also saw 'servo'.

I'm afraid I'll have to think of 'arvo' as just another word for 'afternoon'. As an abbreviation, it makes no sense to me - pedants like sense! (I didn't understand the arvo, arvie,arv bit - sorry.)

I never understood why a sandwich is called a sarnie.

Rossim

I supposes it is short for sarndwich for those who use the long "a".
Here we just say butty.

Malone

You might prefer affo as in - "I'm going this affo" a more pleasant sound.

Cleverjo

I think "at the minute" might be North-East. A day earlier in the Times ,Carol Midgley was complaining about the use of "excited for" when it should be "excited about". I have sent her some material and hope she will use some of our complaints.

In Oz it's a 'sanga' . . probably an abbr. of the mispronunciation 'sangawich'

Arvo/ Arvie/ Arv are interchangeable . .

Servo . . Yes
Reno = Renovation
Typo = Typographical error
Reo = Reinforcing steel

Many of these I thought would be universal

Thanks, everyone.

Hannah, I still don't like 'arvo' - nor its friends arvie and arv. This is probably because it's rather a jumbled process getting from 'afternoon' to any of them! Yes, many of the -o words are very common. I think my favourite Australian term is 'thongs' for flip-flops - although it sounds odd to us, the word makes perfect sense. Last week I read a book set in Australia. At one point there was a dead body, and the policeman was asked 'Are you sure he suicided?'. I hope that usage, verb, stays in Australia!

Malone

At least he did not say "Are you sure he suicided himself?" or.....self-murdered.

I am pleased that the proposed merger of Sainsbury's with Asda is under threat. The prospect of Sainsbury'sAsda'ses would be a step too far.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it could block the deal as it could lead to a "poorer shopping experience"

The other CMA, Cant Move Apostrophes, who submitted an objective analysis to the Authority regarding Sainsbury's four brand names, were pleased with the statement.

Sainsbury's chief executive Mike Coupe described the CMA's analysis as "fundamentally flawed" and said the firm would be making "very strong representations" to it about its "inaccuracy and lack of objectivity".

Jigjag, my suggestion for any merger of Sainsbury's and Asda would be for the new company to be called Sada - though almost inevitably, this could end up being Sadas or Sada's. Let's hope they remain separate.

The CMA - both CMAs - are to be applauded for some sterling work.


Do you know if there's an existing body for the repatriation of apostrophes? I think it would be good if someone could rehome all the apostrophes that many greengrocers (and other small retail outlets) have appropriated. I'm sure good homes could be found for these.

Malone

Your suggested name is excellent, though I fear it would be known as Saddo's here.

Re apostrophes - I think there is such an existing body. I will do some research and I am sure I will find it.