Category: Oxford Word of the Month
-
Oxford Word of the Month – October: cultural burn
Cultural burn: noun: a method of vegetation control by burning, used especially by some Aboriginal communities. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH In a news report entitled ‘“Traditional burning”: Reviving Indigenous cultural burns for bushfire management’, Dja Dja Wurrung man and Parks Victoria ranger Trent Nelson said: It’s a practice that our old people used…
-
Oxford Word of the Month – September: dog act
Dog act noun an action seen as treacherous, cowardly or unacceptable. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH The term dog act might bring to mind the idea of a performing dog circus act, dog control legislation or, if you are familiar with Australian English, a now defunct law that prohibited the sale of alcohol…
-
Oxford Word of the Month – August: green whistle
Green whistle: noun a disposable handheld inhaler for short-term pain relief following accident or injury. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH Since the 1970s, many Australian accident and trauma victims have used the green whistle, an emergency analgesic device commonly carried by paramedics to give temporary pain relief for patients on their way to…
-
Oxford Word of the Month – July: Anzac Day rule
Anzac Day rule noun a tradition that heaters should not be used in Canberra before Anzac Day. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH An Australian Government website on energy use has a page headed: ‘Your energy bill and the ANZAC Day rule’, and provides the following advice: Unknown to ACT outsiders, an ancient practice…
-
Oxford Word of the Month – June: picfac
picfac noun a photo opportunity, especially as used by politicians. THE STORY BEHIND THE WORD OF THE MONTH In the lead-up to the 2010 election, a journalist expressed frustration with prime minister Kevin Rudd’s preference for a particular kind of media opportunity: I don’t know why he is there, who he thinks he is, or what…