Aussie slang among one of the world’s ‘Banished Words’ of 2021 — here are some of the phrases that made it at the top of the list

Aussie slang among one of the world’s ‘Banished Words’ of 2021 — here are some of the phrases that made it at the top of the list
Aussies are famous for their unmistakable twist on the English language and creative slang. It seems that we have another way of saying almost anything.

Petrol station becomes servo, the sandwich becomes sanga, afternoon becomes arvo, the list is endless.

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Aussie slang may not be in the dictionary, but it's certainly something that has become part of the everyday vocabulary of most Australians. Credit: Getty Images.

However, on the other side of the pond, Lake Superior State University in the USA conducts an annual survey of terms that they deem to be overused yet useless.

The school has notably conducted the survey since 1976 and has been publishing the results at the end of each year.

The survey, which amassed responses from English speakers around the globe, including Australia, Canada, Norway, Belgium, England, and Scotland, revealed that the phrases that dominated this year's list are more conversational compared to last year's list which was dominated by phrases related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

LSSU Executive Director for Marketing and Communications Peter Szatmary said that the results may be a reflection of how Western society has adapted to the ongoing pandemic.

LSSU President Rodney S. Hanley in a statement: "Say what you mean and mean what you say. Can't get any easier, or harder, than that."

"Every year submitters play hard at suggesting what words and terms to banish by paying close attention to what humanity utters and writes. Taking a deep dive at the end of the day and then circling back make perfect sense. Wait, what?"

If you're curious which phrases made it at the top of the list, here are the top 10 phrases that need to be banished.

hDM0Ut3dugNUf7Qd4B2XtOqkecmQx63hEwYMKrJckXxK9UgfVKkeuQflmsiK03vlammrEu7emt8YmmsD_ayNjD9oWFXsTtuntekSsiWacw7wS3mOmP1Ne_p4Of4hbeG_4NZQv3M

“Wait, what?”, “supply chain”, and “no worries” are some of the phrases that made it to the list of Banished Words of 2021. Credit: Getty Images.

1. 'Wait, what?'

The phrase is used to convey surprise or uncertainty. The survey suggests that some found this phrase to be "inexact", with one person complaining "I don't want to wait" whenever they hear this phrase.

2. 'No worries'

This classic Aussie slang is a substitute for "you're welcome" or "sure thing". But did you know that a number of English speakers nominated the phrase for its ubiquity?

The school noted that this phrase is "truly meaningless".

Check out some of the classic Aussie slangs in this video:



Credit: mmmEnglish


3. 'At the end of the day'

The phrase first appeared on the Banished Words list way back in 1999. However ‘at the end of the day’ nothing seems to have changed.

4. 'That being said'

Nominators argued that this phrase is a redundant verbal filler.

One person said: “Go ahead and say what you want already!"

5. 'Asking for a friend'

This phrase has been used as a joke on social media, mainly by users who don't want to admit that they are asking the questions for themselves.

Although the phrase is meant to be humorous, some nominators said that the phrase is overused.

6. 'Circle back'

The school said: "It's a conversation, not the Winter Olympics."

7. 'Deep dive'

A number of people pointed out that diving is for bodies of water and not subjects or materials. Hence, the reason why they think this phrase is useless.

A person asked: "Do we need 'deep'? I mean, does anyone dive into the shallow end?"

8. 'New normal'

This phrase emerged to describe the societal changes that we're going through as we try to cope with the impacts of COVID-19. But, did you know that the phrase was actually banished back in 2012?

The nominators argue that the pandemic isn't "new" anymore so there's no reason for this phrase to still exist.

9. 'You're on mute'

As we shift from physical meetings to virtual conferences, this phrase has been used numerous times since the start of the pandemic.

10. 'Supply chain'

We are guilty of this. We used this term a lot last December, as the pandemic made supply issues over Christmas a bit of a hot topic.

The nominators pointed out that the phrase has been used as a scapegoat for any kind of shortage. Meanwhile, others argued that the term has been used as a buzzword.

Do you think that banishing common terms such as ‘no worries’ is important? We would love to hear your thoughts. ‘At the end of the day’, if you're getting the message across kindly and clearly, it shouldn't be an issue.
 
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Clearly some people have nothing better to do. They need to get a life as this survey is clearly 'useless".
 
My rational response: The different forms of English around the world (of which US English is only one) for centuries contributed to the richness of the English language as we have it. Cultural and regional differences provide great study opportunities for linguists and lexicographers and they would all agree that there is no 'right' or 'wrong' ... language is a living thing and constantly growing and transforming. So who's to say what's in and what's out?

My emotional response (I'm not a born Aussie, and second-language English speaker to boot, but somehow this article really riles me): Who the hell cares what the US thinks? They're a spent force!
 
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Its understandable, I mean they are from Lake "Superior"...... how on earth could they possibly understand?.....
Let's look at any word from their American language........
Why would you ever call a tap a "faucet"? Surely they could see that if you force it, it will break, and then they will have to "tap into" the plumbing to fix it.....
Now that tickled my fancy......see if they can work that one out.
 
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Well said Chris P Bacon. It bugs me that the Emma video (#mmmEnglish) (purporting to teach Aussie words) refers to Dollars as Bucks. This is as American as Nickels and Dimes and should not be included as an Australian term.
 
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I think they can ban it as much as they like - why would that worry us? We aren’t suggesting they use our mode of speech anyway. We should just continue using the vernacular we like because for us it means something. Who cares what they ban. . . Ban away, we couldn’t care less!!
 
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What has our language have to do with An American study, They have no respect for their President, they voted him in with the largest majority then try and drag him down to their lever (Gutter Level). First thing they should do is a survey on how to make a good cup of coffee. Leave us Aussies alone Yanks.
So true! Disgusting coffee 😂😂
 
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Don’t forget “bastard”. Nothing to do with parentagee.g., good bastard, bad bastard, happy, crook, filthy, funny, cruel, helpless, unfortunate, proper, mad, silly, the list goes on.
 
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Oh how I wish they would consider 'banning' some of their own sayings. I cringe each time I hear someone come out with the "It is what it is" American slang we have adopted, ugh! White Americans steal from African Americans & before we know it Aussies are coming out with the darn sayings. And that is NOT what it is because we CAN change it ;)
 
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Australia is going to the pack and unfortunately, we are the cause. Not the old Aussies who remember the good old days and are proud to hang onto our heritage but the new generations, some imports that settle here and bloody Dudley Do-Rights that can’t leave well enough alone. They have to protest, go against all common sense and try to force everybody to conform to their way. I hate when Aussies have to follow America. We celebrate Halloween, we copy their protests even though it doesn’t apply to Australia, we can’t even eat a bloody prawn, it has to be a shrimp. To have anyone interfere with our heritage and now language is subversion. Fair suck of the sav, nick off you bludging drongos and go save a country that needs help.
Too Right!! Another one that is grating me these days is every cook (read Chef) is using corn bloody starch!!! It is cornflour....
 
Agree with all that has been said about a bunch of w rhymes with Yanks who cant even tell the time "1/4 of 10" now pray tell me is that 1/4 to and 1/4 past??
 
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Next thing they will be telling us we have to say Y'all like they do. We love our slang and we will continue to use it regardless of what a bunch of nongs on the other side of the world say. They are only jealous because they never thought of it first
 
I'm glad to see so many comments supporting our Aussie slang... every country has its own little sayings... too much of Australia has already become Americanized... they'll be wanting us to say Y'all and writing color instead of colour, etc.... if they can't steal it (like the name Ugg for our sheepskin boots, which is what Aussies have Always called them), then they want to ban it!! I don't think so!!
 
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Aussie slang among one of the world’s ‘Banished Words’ of 2021 — here are some of the phrases that made it at the top of the list
Aussies are famous for their unmistakable twist on the English language and creative slang. It seems that we have another way of saying almost anything.

Petrol station becomes servo, the sandwich becomes sanga, afternoon becomes arvo, the list is endless.


huonAzFKvOyUMEr-qqE52Cln3ZxXBuFubrUPKL8bTlRmz_gm1vCm2bsMAOfRChRGmfU8VwcUT_DTmPuIxKLBFyE1amXgdRwchXQCQU41vuZbcbVLtpjYKrofDRgTumcyh2GC934

Aussie slang may not be in the dictionary, but it's certainly something that has become part of the everyday vocabulary of most Australians. Credit: Getty Images.

However, on the other side of the pond, Lake Superior State University in the USA conducts an annual survey of terms that they deem to be overused yet useless.

The school has notably conducted the survey since 1976 and has been publishing the results at the end of each year.

The survey, which amassed responses from English speakers around the globe, including Australia, Canada, Norway, Belgium, England, and Scotland, revealed that the phrases that dominated this year's list are more conversational compared to last year's list which was dominated by phrases related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

LSSU Executive Director for Marketing and Communications Peter Szatmary said that the results may be a reflection of how Western society has adapted to the ongoing pandemic.

LSSU President Rodney S. Hanley in a statement: "Say what you mean and mean what you say. Can't get any easier, or harder, than that."

"Every year submitters play hard at suggesting what words and terms to banish by paying close attention to what humanity utters and writes. Taking a deep dive at the end of the day and then circling back make perfect sense. Wait, what?"

If you're curious which phrases made it at the top of the list, here are the top 10 phrases that need to be banished.


hDM0Ut3dugNUf7Qd4B2XtOqkecmQx63hEwYMKrJckXxK9UgfVKkeuQflmsiK03vlammrEu7emt8YmmsD_ayNjD9oWFXsTtuntekSsiWacw7wS3mOmP1Ne_p4Of4hbeG_4NZQv3M

“Wait, what?”, “supply chain”, and “no worries” are some of the phrases that made it to the list of Banished Words of 2021. Credit: Getty Images.

1. 'Wait, what?'

The phrase is used to convey surprise or uncertainty. The survey suggests that some found this phrase to be "inexact", with one person complaining "I don't want to wait" whenever they hear this phrase.

2. 'No worries'

This classic Aussie slang is a substitute for "you're welcome" or "sure thing". But did you know that a number of English speakers nominated the phrase for its ubiquity?

The school noted that this phrase is "truly meaningless".

Check out some of the classic Aussie slangs in this video:




Credit: mmmEnglish


3. 'At the end of the day'

The phrase first appeared on the Banished Words list way back in 1999. However ‘at the end of the day’ nothing seems to have changed.

4. 'That being said'

Nominators argued that this phrase is a redundant verbal filler.

One person said: “Go ahead and say what you want already!"

5. 'Asking for a friend'

This phrase has been used as a joke on social media, mainly by users who don't want to admit that they are asking the questions for themselves.

Although the phrase is meant to be humorous, some nominators said that the phrase is overused.

6. 'Circle back'

The school said: "It's a conversation, not the Winter Olympics."

7. 'Deep dive'

A number of people pointed out that diving is for bodies of water and not subjects or materials. Hence, the reason why they think this phrase is useless.

A person asked: "Do we need 'deep'? I mean, does anyone dive into the shallow end?"

8. 'New normal'

This phrase emerged to describe the societal changes that we're going through as we try to cope with the impacts of COVID-19. But, did you know that the phrase was actually banished back in 2012?

The nominators argue that the pandemic isn't "new" anymore so there's no reason for this phrase to still exist.

9. 'You're on mute'

As we shift from physical meetings to virtual conferences, this phrase has been used numerous times since the start of the pandemic.

10. 'Supply chain'

We are guilty of this. We used this term a lot last December, as the pandemic made supply issues over Christmas a bit of a hot topic.

The nominators pointed out that the phrase has been used as a scapegoat for any kind of shortage. Meanwhile, others argued that the term has been used as a buzzword.

Do you think that banishing common terms such as ‘no worries’ is important? We would love to hear your thoughts. ‘At the end of the day’, if you're getting the message across kindly and clearly, it shouldn't be an issue.

Americans don't speak English they speak bastardized amercian english - they've changed the meanings of so many words to suit themselves they should refrain from criticizing ANYONE else. Scones are not biscuits, caramel is not carmel, biscuits are not cookies, fairy floss is not cotton candy, lollies are not candy - they have inflicted their version of everything onto the world so badly that some Aussie kids speak with american accents. Painful to listen to. Funnily enough the phrases they've banned were mostly coined - in AMERICA. The ridiculousness of the yanks continues unabated.
 
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