Ruqayyah Snyder
Australian slang is full of unique and colourful phrases, and one of the most well-known is 'good luck'. While the phrase good luck is commonly used in Australia, there are also other interesting ways to convey the same sentiment. For instance, chookas is a popular expression used to wish good luck to performers, derived from the phrase 'chook it is', which refers to performers being able to afford a chicken dinner after a successful show. Another way to wish someone good luck is to drink an alcoholic beverage from a shoe, a tradition that is said to bring good fortune. So, the next time you want to say 'good luck' in Australia, you can try out these fun and light-hearted alternatives!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Australian word to wish good luck | Chookas |
| Origin | Derived from the phrase "chook it is" which was used to indicate that performers could afford a chicken meal after a performance |
| Pronunciation | Choogas |
| Alternative meaning | Cheers and good wishes |
| Usage | Used in the theatre to wish performers good luck, similar to "break a leg" |
| Superstition | Saying "good luck" directly is avoided as it is considered tempting fate |
| Related phrase | G'day, mate! – used to ask "how are you?" or to say "are you OK?" |
| Other common slang | Arvo (afternoon), Barbie (barbeque), Bottle-O (bottle shop), Brekky (breakfast), Ciggy (cigarette), Maccas (McDonald's), Straya (Australia), Sunnies (sunglasses) |
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What You'll Learn
- 'Chookas' is a common way to say good luck in Australian theatrical circles
- Saying 'good luck' directly is considered tempting fate in Australian theatre
- Drinking an alcoholic beverage out of a shoe is believed to bring good luck
- 'Good on ya' is used to show approval or express congratulations
- Aussies don't pronounce 'r's at the end of words, e.g. 'foreva', 'togetha'
'Chookas' is a common way to say good luck in Australian theatrical circles
In Australian theatrical circles, it is common to say "chookas" to wish someone good luck. The word is believed to have originated during the early 1900s when chicken was considered a delicacy and performers could only afford it after a full house. The cry "chook it is" would be shouted when a full house was expected, and it eventually evolved into the shorter "chookas". This term is now used by performers to wish each other a successful show, regardless of the audience numbers.
Saying "good luck" directly is avoided in Australian theatre circles, perhaps due to the belief that it may tempt fate. The term "chookas" is also thought to be derived from the phrase "cheers and good wishes", which was originally pronounced as "choogas". This is in line with the Australian tendency to abbreviate words, for example, "arvo" for "afternoon" and "barbie" for "barbecue".
The phrase "chookas" is also sometimes accompanied by a poem and specific actions. The poem includes the words "tio tio tio", which are said to mean "with heart and sole", and the actions involve patting your heart three times with your right hand and jumping up on the word "chookas".
"Chookas" is a uniquely Australian expression used by dancers and performers backstage just before a performance begins. It is similar in meaning to the phrase "break a leg" used in other parts of the world.
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Saying 'good luck' directly is considered tempting fate in Australian theatre
In Australian theatrical circles, saying "good luck" is avoided, with performers opting for chookas instead. The phrase "chookas" is believed to have originated during the early 1900s when chicken was considered a delicacy and performers could only afford it if the theatre was full. The cry "chook it is" eventually became "chookas", used to wish each other a successful show.
Saying "good luck" directly in the theatre is considered tempting fate, a superstition with roots in ancient Greece. It was believed that the gods were jealous of mortal success and would cause misfortune to those praised. This belief evolved into the idea that saying "good luck" would jinx the performance, bringing about the opposite of what was intended. Actors are known to be superstitious, and this abstract benediction was used by Australian theatrical agent Evan Dustan in the 1980s.
The theatre world is steeped in superstition, with various rituals believed to ward off misfortune. Some of these include not whistling backstage, avoiding blue costumes, and refraining from mentioning specific play names. These traditions add depth and excitement to the industry, creating a unique atmosphere. While some may see these superstitions as irrational, they are deeply respected and followed by many theatre professionals.
The phrase "break a leg" is commonly used as an alternative to "good luck" in theatre circles worldwide. It is believed to counteract the curse of saying "good luck" and bring good fortune to the performance. However, dancers do not typically use this phrase, opting for merde, the French word for "shit", which refers to the amount of horse dung outside a theatre, indicating a successful show.
While the theatre world holds onto these longstanding traditions, some question their relevance today. With a more globalised theatre industry, performers from diverse cultural backgrounds may not associate "good luck" with the same negative connotations. Additionally, the act of rebellion against what some see as outdated superstitions may lead to a shift in theatre norms.
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Drinking an alcoholic beverage out of a shoe is believed to bring good luck
In Australia, there are several ways to wish someone good luck. One of the most common ways is to say "Chookas", particularly in theatrical circles. The term is believed to have originated in the early 1900s when chicken was considered a delicacy. Before a performance, the manager would check the audience numbers. If the theatre was full, the performers could afford to eat chicken for dinner, leading to the expression "Chook it is!". Over time, this phrase evolved into "Chookas", serving as a wish for a successful show.
Another unique way to convey good luck in Australia is through the act of drinking an alcoholic beverage from a shoe, known as "doing a shoey". This tradition is thought to bring good fortune and is especially popular in Australia. The practice involves pouring a beverage, typically beer, into one's shoe or that of a friend. The shoe is then tilted, and the liquid is chugged directly from it.
The shoey gained prominence in Australia when MotoGP rider Jack Miller performed one to celebrate his first premier-class victory in 2016. Since then, it has become a trend among Australians, with Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo also partaking in shoeys on the podium.
The origin of drinking from shoes can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and it was a tradition among German soldiers during World War I to bring good luck before battles. Additionally, in the early 20th century, drinking champagne from a lady's slipper became symbolic of decadence and sophistication.
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'Good on ya' is used to show approval or express congratulations
While "good luck" is commonly used in Australian English, there are several other expressions that are used to convey the same sentiment. One such expression is chookas, which is used in the theatre to wish good luck to performers. The term is believed to have originated during the early 1900s when chicken was considered a delicacy in Australia. Since performers' fees depended on box-office earnings, a full house meant they could afford chicken for dinner. Thus, the cry "chook it is" came to be associated with a successful show. Over time, the phrase was shortened to "chookas", losing its original meaning, and is now used to wish performers good luck before a show.
Another way to say "good luck" in Australian English is to use the phrase "good on ya". This phrase is typically used to show approval or to express congratulations. For example, one might say, "Good on ya, mate. You really aced that exam!". The emphasis is usually placed on the word "on", as in "Good ON ya". In some parts of Australia, the expression is shortened further to "onya". Interestingly, the phrase can also be used sarcastically to convey mild criticism or displeasure. For instance, "You broke a surfboard again. Good on ya, mate."
The phrase "good on ya" is often used interchangeably with "good on you", although there is some debate among Australians about the naturalness of the latter phrase. Some Australians find "good on you" to be unnatural, preferring to use "good on ya" or even "good on ya, mate" instead. The emphasis in "good on ya" typically falls on the word "on", while "good on YOU" may be interpreted as more neutral or even sarcastic.
In conclusion, while "good luck" is commonly used in Australian English, unique expressions like "chookas" and "good on ya" add flavour and variety to the language. These phrases not only convey good wishes but also carry cultural significance, reflecting the superstitions and traditions of Australian theatre and the value placed on certain foods in the past.
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Aussies don't pronounce 'r's at the end of words, e.g. 'foreva', 'togetha'
In Australian English, it is common to avoid saying "good luck" directly, especially in theatrical circles. Instead, Australians often use the phrase "chookas", which is believed to bring good luck without tempting fate. The term is thought to have originated during the early 1900s when chicken was considered a delicacy and performers could only afford it after a successful show with a full house. The phrase "chook it is" eventually became "chookas", and it is now used to wish for a successful performance.
Regarding the Australian accent and its tendency to drop the letter 'r', there are a few interesting points to note. Firstly, the Australian accent is typically non-rhotic, meaning the 'r' sound at the end of syllables is often dropped or not strongly emphasized, as in the word "tiger" pronounced as "tig-ah". However, when the next word begins with a vowel, Australians may insert an 'r' sound, as in "the tig-er is coming". This insertion of 'r' is known as an intrusive 'r'.
The addition of 'r' sounds in Australian English can also occur at the end of words ending in a vowel, such as "saw" becoming "saw-err" or "draw" becoming "draw-err". This phenomenon is observed in various Australian accents and is attributed to the natural flow of speech, where running words together with intrusive sounds like 'r' can make pronunciation easier and more natural.
It's worth noting that Australians are also known for abbreviating words, which can further influence their pronunciation. For example, "afternoon" becomes "arvo", "barbecue" becomes "barbie", and "McDonald's" becomes "Maccas". These abbreviations are common in Australian vernacular and contribute to the unique character of Australian English.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a few ways to say good luck in Australian. One way is to say "chookas", which is a shortened version of "chook it is", where chook is Australian slang for chicken. This phrase was used when performers could afford to eat chicken after a full house.
"Chookas" is pronounced as "choo-kas".
Yes, another way to say good luck in Australian is to say "break a leg", similar to in other English-speaking countries.
Some other Australian slang words and phrases include "arvo" for afternoon, "barbie" for barbecue, "brekky" for breakfast, "cobber" for friend, and "dag" for a socially awkward person.
