Aussies reminisce about old phrases no one uses anymore

An online page has shared the old Australian phrases no longer used and revealed the ones they wish would come back.

Aussies have shared the old phrases no longer used and revealed the ones they wish would return.

Facebook page Mums Central posted a question: “’What’s an old Aussie saying you don’t hear people say anymore?”

Over 2,000 people commented on the question. One of the most missed phrases was “Dry as a dead dingo’s donger” which means very dry.

“My Dad always used to say “I’m as dry as a dead dingoes donga [sic],” one person wrote.

“As dry as a dead dingo’s donga [sic]. Flat out like a lizard drinking,” another said.

‘My dad always said he was as dry as a dead dingo’s donga [sic],’ a third wrote.

“I hear it around a fair bit but not as much.”

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Facebook page Mums Central posted a question: “'What's an old Aussie saying you don't hear people say anymore?” Picture: Facebook/Mums Central

Many of the popular slangs dated back from decades with some coined from World War II.

“Don’t come the raw prawn with me,’’ one person said. “I still say it all the time – but it’s not as popular.”

The expression refers to an attempt to deceive someone or misrepresent a situation.

Other favourites from the group thread were “Useless as an ashtray on a motorbike”, “Not know someone from a bar of soap” and “Flat out like a lizard drinking”.

“’As useful as an ashtray on a motorbike,’ one person wrote. “It really escapes people sometimes.”

“I love telling people I don’t know someone from a bar of soap.”

Aussies have shared the old phrases no longer used and revealed the ones they wish would come back.

One user said an expression had only heard once but had never forgotten.

“Someone once told me something was “better than a smack in the belly with a wet fish” and I’ve never heard it since.”

Another said their grandparents used to call eggs “bumnuts” or “cackleberries.”

One person commented that their favourite was “Here’s 20 cents. Ring someone that cares.”

“l heard Agro say this to Ann Maree on TV when l was kid (the 80s) … f#ck l laughed, was hilarious!!” they said.

A man shared an amusing story about how his father would often deceive him and his siblings as children.

“My dad would always say “I’m going to see a man about a dog” when he wanted to go off for a smoke, but it completely went over our heads,” he said.

He added, “Every few days we would think we’re getting a puppy.”

Old Aussie phrases you don’t hear anymore

Dry as a dead dingo’s donger

Don’t come the raw prawn with me

As useful as an ashtray on a motorbike

I don’t know him from a bar of soap

Flat out like a lizard drinking

I’m going to see a man about a dog

Better than a smack in the belly with a wet fish

Fit as a mallee bull and twice as dangerous

Three kangaroos short of a high paddock