The Marines and sailors, who by July are expected to number 2,500, are slated to take part in several exercises before heading home in October. It’s a chance to hone skills and strengthen ties, while working through possible differences in lingo.
And they’re going to need to catch on to stuff like this:
A glossary in the original WWII-era booklet provides some other “colorful, picturesque” words and phrases — and hints at likely common interests among the troops of both countries, if not a common vocabulary.
Included among the first 20 words are the following selections, some of which appear to have fallen out of use: sheila – a babe; cliner – another babe; sninny – a third babe; shivoo – a party; shikkered – drunk; plonk – cheap wine; shout – to buy drinks for the house; smooge – to pitch woo (to flirt); cobber – pal.
I think it’s hilarious.
An Aussie Air Force Group Captain – the equivalent of a US full colonel – got himself in trouble for telling a local newspaper that they needed to educate the US visitors as, “The time to figure that out is not on the battlefield when the bullets are flying.”
Seems Aussies are proud of the fact that they use more slang than any other English speakers in the world.
(Don’t think they’ve ever visited some US neighborhoods)
More of this fun stuff @ No, Australian soldiers aren't banned from using slang around US Marines
