Updated April 202614 min read
Australian Slang at Work — 50 Terms Your Boss Will Use
Your first week at an Australian workplace can feel like everyone's speaking a different language. "We'll knock off early this arvo, grab a brekkie run, and sort out that dodgy report before smoko." What? Don't worry — this guide covers 50 common workplace slang terms you'll hear in offices, on construction sites, and everywhere in between.
Time & Schedule Slang
Arvo — Afternoon. "See you this arvo" = "See you this afternoon."
Brekkie — Breakfast. "Anyone want to do a brekkie run?" = "Anyone want to go get breakfast?"
Knock off — Finish work. "What time do you knock off?" = "What time do you finish work?"
Smoko — A work break (originally a cigarette break). "Let's have a smoko" = "Let's take a break."
Crack of dawn — Very early morning. "We start at the crack of dawn tomorrow" = "Very early start tomorrow."
RDO — Rostered Day Off. A scheduled day off, common in trades and shift work. "I've got an RDO next Friday."
Chuck a sickie — Take a sick day when not actually sick. "Dave's chucking a sickie to go fishing."
Early mark — Finishing work earlier than scheduled. "The boss gave us an early mark on Friday."
Work & Tasks Slang
Suss out / suss it out — Investigate, figure out, check something. "Can you suss out why the printer's broken?"
Sort out / sort it — Fix, organise, or deal with something. "I'll sort that report by this arvo."
Flat out — Extremely busy. "Sorry, I'm flat out today, can we chat tomorrow?"
Flat out like a lizard drinking — Even busier than flat out. A classic Aussie intensifier.
Crack on — Get started, keep going. "Right, let's crack on with the meeting."
Give it a go — Try it. "I've never used this software, but I'll give it a go."
Dodgy — Suspicious, unreliable, poor quality. "That spreadsheet looks a bit dodgy."
On the tools — Doing hands-on physical work (as opposed to management/office work). "He was on the tools for 10 years before becoming a manager."
Bash out — Complete quickly. "Can you bash out a quick email to the client?"
Have a crack — Make an attempt. "I'll have a crack at fixing the website."
People & Roles Slang
Tradie — Tradesperson (plumber, electrician, carpenter, etc.). "We need to get a tradie in to fix the aircon."
Sparky — Electrician. "Call the sparky, the lights are flickering."
Chippy — Carpenter. "The chippy's coming Thursday to build the shelves."
Brickie — Bricklayer.
Garbo — Garbage collector. "The garbos come on Tuesday mornings."
Postie — Postal worker / mail carrier. "The postie hasn't been yet today."
Ambo — Ambulance officer / paramedic.
Firey / firie — Firefighter.
Offsider — An assistant or helper, especially on a worksite. "Bring your offsider to help with the install."
Big boss / big cheese — The top person in charge. "The big boss is visiting from head office."
Greetings & Responses
G'day — Hello. The classic Australian greeting. "G'day, how's it going?"
How ya going? — How are you? (Not asking where you're walking to.) "Hey Sarah, how ya going?"
No worries — You're welcome / it's fine / don't worry about it. The most useful phrase in Australia. "Thanks for the help!" "No worries!"
She'll be right — It will be fine / don't worry. "The deadline's tight but she'll be right."
Good on ya — Well done / good for you. "You finished the project early? Good on ya!"
Cheers — Thanks (informal). "Here's that file you wanted." "Cheers!"
Ta — Thanks (very informal). "Ta for that."
Reckon — Think/believe. "I reckon we should push the launch back a week."
Describing Things
Heaps — A lot, very. "There's heaps of work to do" or "That presentation was heaps good."
Ripper — Excellent, fantastic. "That's a ripper idea!"
Stoked — Very pleased/excited. "I'm stoked we got the contract!"
Dodgy — Unreliable, questionable. "That supplier seems a bit dodgy."
Full on — Intense, overwhelming. "That meeting was full on."
Sweet as — Great, perfect. "The report's ready?" "Sweet as."
Trade & Blue-Collar Slang
The servo — Service station / petrol station. "I'll grab some fuel from the servo on the way to site."
Esky — A portable cooler/ice box. "Chuck the drinks in the esky."
Ute — A utility vehicle / pickup truck. "Throw the tools in the back of the ute."
Site — Construction site or work location. "I'll be on site from 7am."
Yakka — Hard work. "That was hard yakka today."
Office Culture Terms
Have a yarn — Have a chat/conversation. "Got a minute? I need to have a yarn about the budget."
Catch up — A meeting (informal). "Let's have a catch up about the project next week."
Touch base — Check in briefly. "I'll touch base with you after lunch."
Keen — Interested, enthusiastic. "Are you keen to take on that project?" "Yeah, keen!"
Cultural Note: Australian workplaces tend to be much less formal than in many other countries. Calling your boss by their first name is normal. Casual conversations, including personal topics, are expected. Humour (including self-deprecating humour) is valued. If someone teases you, it usually means they like you — it's a sign of acceptance.
Tips for Using Australian Slang at Work
- Listen first. Spend your first few weeks absorbing the language before trying to use it. Context matters — some slang is appropriate on a construction site but not in a board meeting.
- Start with the basics. "No worries," "cheers," and "how ya going?" are safe to use in any workplace from day one.
- Don't force it. Australians can tell when someone is trying too hard to use slang. Use it naturally as you pick it up, not all at once.
- Ask if you don't understand. Australians are happy to explain their slang. Saying "sorry, what does that mean?" is perfectly fine and shows you're engaged.
- Match the formality level. In corporate environments, slang is used more in casual conversations than in emails or presentations. In trades and hospitality, slang is the norm.
- Sarcasm and understatement are common. "Not bad" often means "very good." "A bit of a disaster" might mean "a complete catastrophe." This can confuse newcomers, but you'll pick it up.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does "chuck a sickie" mean in Australia?
To "chuck a sickie" means to take a sick day from work when you're not actually sick. It's deeply embedded in Australian workplace culture, though employers don't encourage it. Most Australians do it at least once or twice a year. Read our Workplace Culture Guide for more on what's acceptable at Australian workplaces.
What does "knock off" mean in Australian slang?
To "knock off" means to finish work for the day. "What time do you knock off?" is one of the most common workplace questions. You'll also hear "knock-off time" to refer to the end of the work day, and "knock-off drinks" for after-work drinks (usually on a Friday).
What is a "smoko" in Australia?
A "smoko" is a work break, originally a cigarette break but now refers to any short break during the workday. It's used across all industries, though it's most common in trades, construction, and blue-collar work. Your smoko might involve a coffee, snack, or just sitting down for 10-15 minutes.
What does "flat out" mean in Australian workplace slang?
"Flat out" means extremely busy with lots of work. The extended phrase "flat out like a lizard drinking" is even more emphatic and is a classic Aussie expression. If your colleague says they're "flat out," don't ask them for a favour unless it's urgent. Check our Job Search Guide for tips on finding work.
Why do Australians shorten every word at work?
Australians love abbreviations and diminutives as a cultural trait. It reflects the casual, informal nature of Australian communication. Words are shortened with "-ie"/"-y" (brekkie, arvo, sickie) or "-o" (smoko, ambo, servo). This happens in all settings, including workplaces, and is a sign of friendliness rather than unprofessionalism. Embrace it — it's one of the most charming aspects of Australian English.
Disclaimer: Slang usage varies by region, industry, and workplace. Some terms are more common in certain states or among certain age groups. This guide covers the most widely used workplace slang as of 2025-26. SettleAU provides general cultural information and is not an employment service.