Provocazioni, parolacce e acrobazie: lo sport australiano

SBS Australia

12-07-2025

Transcript
You're at your first Aussie sports match.
The crowd is shouting, the players are yelling — and you're doing your best to understand...
but it all sounds so weird!
Hi, I'm Dr. Howie Manns.
I study language and how people use it.
After moving to Australia, I fell in love with AFL football.
But I was shocked by the way Aussies talk about sport — on and off the field.
It isn't always polite.
But once I understood it, I found more ways to join in the fun.
Not-so-polite passion for sport
In Australia, being a little rude during sport is part of the game.
Let's start with cricket.
Back in 1877, Australia and Britain played their first official Test series.
Australia shocked Britain by holding them to a draw —
and then winning the Third Test.
Tensions rose.
At one match, a controversial umpire call led to an Aussie crowd storming the field.
A British player called them 'Sons of convicts!'
This moment tells us two key things:
Australians love the underdog.
And we don't always play it cool under pressure. Sledging and sportsmanship
One of Australia's most famous sports terms is sledging —
on-field banter meant to distract or intimidate your opponent.
The term came about in the 1960s or '70s, likely from the word 'sledgehammer'
(as in, 'subtle as a sledgehammer').
Sledging can be friendly — or harsh.
Cricket legend Shane Warne (a.k.a. Warnie) said it's about timing,
and not every sledge is meant to hurt.
Footy talk: Aussie rules and colourful language I'm an AFL fan — go, Doggies — so let's talk footy.
We've called it 'Aussie Rules' since World War I.
In fact, we started saying 'Aussie' around the same time.
Footy is full of expressive phrases:
'Give him the don't argue' – a player pushes away an opponent with an outstretched arm.
'Selling the candy' – faking out an opponent by pretending to pass.
'Blinder' – a spectacular play or performance.
We even name moments after athletes.
Steven Bradbury became a legend by winning gold when everyone else fell.
Now we say someone 'did a Bradbury' if they win unexpectedly.
And of course, there's the chant:
'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, oi, oi!'
Made famous during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Underdogs, jokes, and 'a bit of a hit'
Aussies love a humble winner.
Even top athletes downplay their success in interviews.
We love the underdog — and we love not taking ourselves too seriously.
If a game's just for fun, we might say:
'Just having a bit of a hit' or 'a bit of a knock.'
That phrase — 'a bit of' — is uniquely Aussie.
It shows we're being casual, playful, even self-deprecating.
Sport is everywhere — even at work
Sport is more than play in Australia — it's part of the culture.
It shows up in everyday talk and even in the office.
'Opening the batting' = starting a meeting
'Shirtfront' = confronting someone head-on (even in politics)
'Handball' = passing a task on to someone else
Whether on the field or in the boardroom, Aussies love a bit of slang and banter.
Sport connects us Sport connects Australians — even when we disagree about the game.
We joke with teammates.
We cheer in the stands.
We argue about the score at the pub.
This shared language makes us feel like part of a team —
on and off the field.
Language keeps evolving
Aussie English is always changing.
New words arrive. Old ones fade. And our sports language reflects that evolution. Understanding the past — from sledging to shirtfronts — helps us feel more at home here.
So stay curious.
Because sometimes, those weird sports words
can open the door to a wonderful life in Australia.
Weird and Wonderful Aussie English Video production company: New Mac Video Agency