Keeping Kiwi Slang Alive
Thank you for your vote - please come back another time to vote again.
McGregor's are proud of our choice baked goods, we are also just as proud to support our kiwi heritage by keeping kiwi slang alive.
Vote for your favourite Kiwi slang and every year in the week before ANZAC weekend we will hold the 'Keeping Kiwi Slang Alive' Awards.
Just click on your favourite phrase and your vote will appear automatically.
If you think you have a new piece of Kiwi slang that's not already listed on this website, submit your new piece of slang now and vote away, see how your Kiwi Slang performs at the annual awards.
It’s as easy as pie.
The Slang Rank Votes
     
Bit green behind the ears
Don't know what they're doing
1 3271
     
arse over tit
Head over heels
2 3226
     
Maori Roast
Fish and Chips
3 3174
     
Mate rates
A cheaper price for a friend
4 3100
     
Shank’s pony
Walking
5 3070
     
Making a mountain out of a molehill
Making a big deal out of something small
6 3057
     
Kill two birds with one stone
Do two things with one action
7 2988
     
Pull the pin
Stop doing something
8 2985
     
Cheap as chips
Doesn't cost much
9 2982
     
From whoa to go
From start to finish
10 2944
     
You make a better door than a window
said by someone standing in the way
11 2940
     
wai wai express
walking
12 2898
     
Rattle your dags:
To hurry up
13 2888
     
Half Pai
Putting little effort in, not interested
14 2869
     
One can short of a sixpack
a bit thick or crazy
15 2809
     
Wop-Wops
Middle of nowhere
16 2799
     
Six of one and half a dozen of the other
Same
17 2797
     
Off Like A Robber's Dog
Really taking off
18 2768
     
Wouldn't know shit from clay
Naive or stupid person
19 2768
     
Freeze the balls off a brass monkey
Very Cold
20 2764
     
AS USEFULL AS AN ASHTRAY ON A MOTORBIKE
USELESS
21 2762
     
Out of the blue
By suprise
22 2745
     
AS USELESS AS TITS ON A BULL
USELESS
23 2727
     
Miss goodie two shoes
Some one who is always well behaved
24 2722
     
a hot bit of crumpit
a pritty woman
25 2717
     
Can you spare it man?
Is that the best you can do?
26 2709
     
see ya round like a record
catch up later
27 2706
     
Good as gold
28 2705
     
wig wong for a gooses bridle
something that doesn't do anything, no known use
29 2702
     
Kill two birds with one stone
Get two things done at once
30 2697
     
wee bit of fluff
see "crumpit"
31 2697
     
A glass and a half and you're on your arse.
Said to someone who gets drunk easily.
32 2692
     
Built like a brick shithouse
A solid framed person
33 2682
     
Chip off the old block
A child that is similar to their parent/s
34 2667
     
Piss holes in the snow
Barely visible
35 2660
     
good as gold
i've done it, i understand
36 2629
     
Get off the grass
disbelief, similar to "stop pulling my leg"
37 2627
     
rings a bell
sounds familiar
38 2624
     
Polished off
To finish eating, quickly
39 2620
     
Sammy short of a picnic
a bit thick, or crazy
40 2615
     
piece of piss
it's easy
41 2602
     
Much of a muchness
Same
42 2594
     
As rare as rocking horse shit
rare
43 2588
     
Daylight robbery
Very Expensive
44 2588
     
You Manis
bit of a wally, done something stupid
45 2586
     
Shit a brick
exclamation of suprise or annoyance
46 2546
     
blue ass fly havin a convulsion
too fast slow down
47 2545
     
sweet as
everything is ok
48 2512
     
Couldnt organise a piss up in a brewery
unorganised, useless
49 2502
     
he's a bit of a dag
he's a character
50 2480
     
Bite your bum
Go away, get lost
51 2456
     
blow off some steam
have a moan about something thats riling you
52 2453
     
it's all good
everything is organised
53 2447
     
Maori Overdrive
throwing a car into neutral going down a steep hill
54 2446
     
chew the fat
have a bit of a yarn
55 2445
     
butchers hook
wont be happy
56 2407
     
Crib
bach
57 2389
     
Arvo
afternoon
58 2388
     
Bach
holiday home
59 2387
     
Guts for garters
In big trouble
60 2369
     
Good nick
good condition
61 2367
     
Bobs your uncle
All done.
62 2365
     
Down the gurgler
failed plan
63 2354
     
The early bird catches the worm
Get in early or miss out
64 2346
     
dodgy
bad, unreliable, not good
65 2309
     
Wouldn't know them from a bar of soap
I do not know this person, similar to I wouldn't know them from Adam
66 2309
     
Brickie
bricklayer
67 2304
     
Chippy
builder, carpenter
68 2284
     
Bungy
elastic strap, as in bungy jumping
69 2282
     
Rust bucket
decrepit motor car
70 2255
     
Shandy
drink made with lemonade and beer
71 2253
     
Big Smoke
large town or city
72 2252
     
you can bet your bottom dollar
you can be sure of that
73 2246
     
Loo
bathroom, toilet
74 2229
     
Scroggin
trampers high energy food including dried fruit and nuts
75 2220
     
Duvet
duilt, doona
76 2213
     
Sparrow Fart
very early in the morning, sunrise
77 2208
     
Handle
pint of beer
78 2203
     
Pram
baby stroller, baby pushchair
79 2202
     
Skite
to boast, boasting, bragging
80 2202
     
Knackered
exhausted, tired, lethargic
81 2199
     
Cast
immobilised, unable to get to your feet
82 2197
     
Ads
tv commercials, advertisements
83 2191
     
Rellies
relatives, family
84 2191
     
Cheerio
mane for a cocktail sausage
85 2182
     
Pong
bad smell, stink
86 2182
     
Chook
chicken
87 2181
     
Motorway
freeway
88 2178
     
Mad as a meat axe
very angry or crazy
89 2175
     
Sunnies
sunglasses
90 2172
     
Bitser
mongrel dog
91 2169
     
Piss around
waste time, muck around
92 2169
     
Brown eye
to flash your naked butt at someone
93 2168
     
Cockie
farmer
94 2167
     
Offsider
an assistant, someones friend as in we saw him and his offsider going down the road
95 2166
     
Root
have sex, get sex
96 2165
     
Barbie
barbeque
97 2164
     
Sparkie
electrician
98 2164
     
Bit of a dag
hard case, comedian, person with character
99 2159
     
Cotton buds
Q-tips
100 2157
     
Pushing up daisies
dead and buried
101 2155
     
Bring a plate
means bring a dish of food to share
102 2154
     
Chick
woman/female
103 2153
     
Yack
to have a conversation with a friend, to talk
104 2151
     
Maori
indigenous people of New Zealand
105 2150
     
Up the duff
pregnant
106 2150
     
Pub
bar or hotel that serves liquor
107 2148
     
Shit a brick
exclamation of surprise or annoyance
108 2148
     
Banger
sausage, as in bangers and mash
109 2143
     
Lurgy
flu
110 2141
     
Tramping
hiking
111 2141
     
Sook
cry baby, wimp
112 2140
     
Strapped for cash
low on cash. no money
113 2140
     
On the never never
paying for somthing using layby, not paying straight away
114 2137
     
Ring
to telephone somebody, as in "i'll give you a ring"
115 2137
     
Ropeable
very angry
116 2135
     
Jumper
sweater, jersey
117 2130
     
Full tit
going very fast, using all your power, as in "he was running full tit"
118 2124
     
Boy-racer
name given to young man who drives a fast car with a loud stereo
119 2123
     
OE
Overseas Experience, many students go on their OE after finishing university, see the world
120 2122
     
Hoon
young adult fast driver
121 2121
     
Sprog
child
122 2120
     
Home and hosed
safe, successfully finished
123 2118
     
Nappy
diaper
124 2116
     
Lift
elevator
125 2115
     
Hollywood
to fake oe exaggerate an injury on the sportsfield
126 2114
     
Squiz
take a quick look
127 2114
     
Bloke
man
128 2113
     
Scull
consume, drink quickly
129 2113
     
Caravan
mobile home that tows behind car
130 2111
     
Nana
grandmother, grandma
131 2109
     
Ta
thanks
132 2109
     
Laughing gear
mouth, as in wrap your laughing gear around this
133 2105
     
Cuppa
cup of tea, as in cuppa tea
134 2104
     
Rubbish
garbage, trash
135 2102
     
Sunday driver
someone who drives very slow
136 2101
     
pisshead
someone who drinks a lot of alcohol, heavy drinker
137 2098
     
Flog
steal, rob
138 2097
     
Kiwi
new zealander
139 2097
     
Creek
small stream
140 2096
     
North Cape to the Bluff
from one end of New Zealand to the other
141 2096
     
Panel Beater
auto repair shop, panel shop
142 2094
     
Sheila
slang for woman/female
143 2094
     
Hard case
amusing, funny person
144 2093
     
Chocka
full, overflowing
145 2090
     
Rattle your dags
hurry up, get moving
146 2087
     
Good on ya mate!
congradulations, well done, proud of someone
147 2086
     
Sickie
to take a day off work or school because you are sick
148 2086
     
Spud
potato
149 2084
     
How's it going mate?
kiwi greeting
150 2082
     
Rark up
telling somebody off
151 2080
     
Shoot through
to leave suddenly
152 2080
     
Ear bashing
someone talking incessantly
153 2078
     
Iceblock
popsicle, ice stick
154 2078
     
Bugger
damn!!
155 2075
     
Chunder
vomit, throw up
156 2074
     
Tea
evening meal, dinner
157 2074
     
Dole
unemployment benefit
158 2073
     
Kick the Bucket
die
159 2073
     
Jandal
thongs, sandles. flip-flops
160 2072
     
Hottie
hot water bottle
161 2071
     
Serviette
paper napkin
162 2071
     
Perve
to stare
163 2070
     
Ding
small dent in vehicle
164 2069
     
Entree
appetizer, hors d'oeurve
165 2066
     
Greasies
fish and chips
166 2063
     
Good as gold
feeling good, not a problem, yes
167 2062
     
piss up
party, social gathering, excuse for drinking alcohol
168 2062
     
Fizz Boat
small power boat
169 2059
     
Footie
rugby union or league, as in 'going to watch the footie'
170 2059
     
Shark and taties
fish and chips
171 2057
     
Scarce as hens teeth
very scarce, rare
172 2053
     
Chuddy
chewing gum
173 2051
     
De facto
mane used for a couple who are not married but are living together
174 2051
     
Dunny
toilet, bathroom, lavatory
175 2051
     
Pissed off
annoyed, angry, upset
176 2050
     
Stubby
small glass of beer
177 2049
     
Home and hosed
heavy rain
178 2047
     
Drongo
stupid fool, idiot
179 2046
     
Going bush
take a break, become reclusive
180 2046
     
Tiki tour
scenic route, take the long route
181 2045
     
Petrol
gasoline, gas
182 2041
     
Quack
Medical doctor
183 2041
     
Wop-wops
situated off the beaten track, out of the way location
184 2041
     
Hard yakka
hard work
185 2040
     
Aotearoa
Maori name for New Zealand, meaning long white cloud
186 2039
     
Happy as larry
very happy
187 2035
     
Pack a sad
bad mood, ill-humoured, broken, as in "she packed a sad"
188 2035
     
Anklebiter
toddler, small child
189 2034
     
Cuz
cousin, family
190 2034
     
Chips
deep fried slices of potato but thicker than a french fry
191 2032
     
Get the willies
overcome with trepidation
192 2030
     
Tights
pantyhose
193 2029
     
L&P
fizzy soda water
194 2028
     
pudding
dessert
195 2025
     
Take-aways
food to be taken away and eaten, fast food outlet
196 2024
     
Scarfie
university student
197 2018
     
Pikelet
small pancake usually had with jam and whipped cream
198 2017
     
Pinky
little finger
199 2016
     
Postal code
zip code
200 2016
     
Chrissy pressies
christmas presents
201 2015
     
Pav
pavlova, dessert usually topped with kiwifruit and cream
202 2015
     
Kiwifruit
brown furry skinned friut, zespri, chinese gooseberry
203 2013
     
Flicks
movies, picture theatre
204 2012
     
Wally
Clown, silly person
205 2008
     
Twink
white-out
206 2004
     
Long drop
outdoor toilet, hole in ground
207 1998
     
Flat
apartment, name for rental accomodation that is shared
208 1997
     
Gumboots or gummies
rubber boots, wellingtons
209 1997
     
Mate
buddy
210 1990
     
Naff off
go away, get lost. leave me alone
211 1988
     
Judder Bar
speed bump
212 1987
     
Open slather
a free-for-all
213 1987
     
Main
primary dish of a meal
214 1984
     
Plonk
cheap liquor, cheap wine
215 1984
     
Torch
flashlight
216 1984
     
Randy
horny, wanting sex
217 1982
     
G'day
universal kiwi greeting, also spelled gidday
218 1980
     
Fizzy drink
soda pop
219 1977
     
Wobbly
to have a tantrum
220 1974
     
Cheers
thanks
221 1971
     
Pakeha
non maori person
222 1969
     
Oldies
parents
223 1967
     
Togs
swimsuit, bathing costume
224 1965
     
Drop your gear
take your clothes off, get undressed
225 1962
     
Ute
small pick up truck
226 1962
     
Cardi
cardigan
227 1961
     
Old Bomb
old car
228 1959
     
Piker
someone who gives up easy, slacker
229 1954
     
Snarler
sausage
230 1954
     
Piece-of-piss
easy,not hard to do, as in "didnt take me long to do, was a piece of piss"
231 1952
     
Flannel
wash cloth, face cloth
232 1951
     
Veges
Vegetables
233 1939
     
Shout
to treat. to buy somthing for someone, as in "lunch is my shout"
234 1938
     
Steinie
bottle od Steinlager, brand lager
235 1928
     
On the Rott
Getting drunk, drinking alcahol
236 1911
     
Lolly
Candy
237 1899
     
Whinge
complain, moan
238 1864
     
Knuckle sandwhich
a fist in the teeth, punch in the mouth
239 1838
     
Knock back a couple of bevvies
Have a few drinks; drink a couple of beers
240 1824
     
HOOK US UP BRO!
Pay for our feed and i will be your mate(eg brother,mate or cousin).
241 1793
     
Out of two, I'd give her one
She's beautiful
242 1784
     
crash hot
excellent
243 1758
     
She'll be right
Everything will be okay, not a problem
244 1733
     
like pushing shit up hill with a pointy stick
getting no where
245 1732
     
as dry as a woodpeckers fart
ready for a beer
246 1722
     
choice
brilliant, awesome, or just really good.
247 1708
     
Good on ya mate!
Thanks, nice one.
248 1696
     
Arse about face
Back to front
249 1683
     
Cold as a Frog's Tit
its cold
250 1551
     
Before your time
Well before you were born mate
251 1546
     
kia ora cuz
greeting often used in NZ from one person to another when they are cousins (now more widely used even if they are just a relative or friend)
252 1537
     
Off Like a Brides Nighty...
I'm leaving
253 1529
     
as cold as a witches tit
pretty cold
254 1524
     
Hubby
Partner
255 1522
     
Off like a trailer full of prawns on a summers day
I'm leaving
256 1518
     
Were you born in a tent?
Unfamiliar with the concept of closing a door behind you.
257 1517
     
Dag
someone who is a hard case, humorous, or funny
258 1509
     
Rough as guts
Unpolished
259 1503
     
Gurb
Food
260 1495
     
Home and hosed
Safe, completed
261 1494
     
yarn
a tall tale, or a good story
262 1493
     
sprogs
another name for your kids
263 1492
     
A few raspberries short of a punnet
Not that bright
264 1491
     
Better get some MOTION POTION
The car needs some gas
265 1491
     
The Ware Whare (wari fari)
The Warehouse. Where everyone gets a bargain
266 1480
     
Jack up
To organise
267 1479
     
Bugger
Nice way of saying "Oh Shit" or worse
268 1475
     
In the Rick
Naked, no clothes on
269 1475
     
Slops
A kind of drink-mostly referred to beer
270 1474
     
Cooked your goose
Gone to far - really in trouble
271 1473
     
Maori safety shoes
Jandals
272 1473
     
Spill
Tell all
273 1473
     
Charge like a wounded bull.
Charge an outrageous price.
274 1465
     
Mountain Oysters
Lambs Balls-tasty treat
275 1463
     
box of fluffy ducks
going well, feeling great
276 1462
     
tight arse
person who holds on to their money and doesnt want to spend, pay or shout anybody
277 1461
     
Going at it like a one legged ass kicker
Working hard
278 1460
     
Knickers in a twist
Upset or angry
279 1460
     
Use you head for more than a hat-peg!
Think about it... ie, use your brain!
280 1460
     
There and back too see how far it is.
An answer to "where are you going"
281 1457
     
as dry as an Abo's armpit
Thirsty
282 1452
     
hook-ups
getting things discount through a mate, or a mate of a mate, or a mate of a mate of a mate
283 1452
     
A Crate
a container for six Flagons, or 1/2 Gallon jars
284 1449
     
Pea Pie&Pud
A pie with pea's and potatoe.
285 1448
     
Shraps
Money made up of coins.
286 1446
     
Dragged through a prickle bush backwards
Messed up clothes, especially after a big night on the piss
287 1442
     
Lift doesnt go to top floor
Not the full quid
288 1439
     
Yonks
A long time
289 1439
     
1/2 Gallon Jar
For beer
290 1438
     
Shiting through the eye of a needle
The runs
291 1437
     
Guts for garters
In big trouble
292 1436
     
cheap skate
person who always buys the cheaper product
293 1431
     
Kickin up a stink
To lose your temper
294 1427
     
smoko
Afternoon or morning tea
295 1424
     
She'll be right
Everything will be fine
296 1423
     
Get off the grass
Disbelief, similar to "Your pulling my leg?"
297 1420
     
kissed as a piwi
that drunk you cant even get your words write.
298 1420
     
tickle ya fancy
make you laugh
299 1416
     
too much
really good
300 1412
     
Dont give a fiddlers fart
Dont care
301 1410
     
Hard yakka
Hard work
302 1410
     
kumara
referred to a person who makes a mistake or does something stupid
303 1402
     
Back in a tick
Will be back soon
304 1398
     
As cheap as chips
cost bugger all or nothing
305 1397
     
Loopy
tourist/holiday maker from overseas
306 1393
     
Second mouse get the cheese
Early bird catches the worm, 2nd mouse get the cheese.( Sometimes a bit of patience is better)
307 1378
     
Gut luggage
Food to go
308 1358
     
Thunder Box
Outside Toilet
309 1347
     
Guts full of arms and legs
Pregnant lady
310 1339
     
Flagon
drinking beer out of
311 1334
     
Cut some shapes on the D floor
312 1331
     
crickey dick
Expression of suprise
313 1319
     
Wigwam for a goose's bridle
Useless item [why would a goose need a bridle, let alone a wigwam to keep it in?]
314 1306
     
Kotunga
Replacement car aerial fasioned from wire hanger
315 1258
     
Mystery pack
Competitors pie with dubious contents.
316 1237
     
Brown Eye
Flash your bottom
317 1179
     
Mutton Tastier Than Lamb Everytime