Question:

[ambitious_wench]

Do Australians and New Zealanders say "Down North" and "Up South"?

Just curious.

NaNoWriMo word count at 8:20 AM local: 22678

Comments

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

Not here we don't. In fact, we New South Welsh types refer to the Queenslanders in the north as Canadians and the Victorians as Mexicans.

For some unknown reason, South Autralians are "Sand Gropers". Go figure.

[djfiggy.livejournal.com]

If they were really Canadians, would that magically teleport me there, in order for me to remain Canadian?

*ponders nonsensical ways of getting to Australia without paying for it*

[lederhosen.livejournal.com]

For some unknown reason, South Autralians are "Sand Gropers".

Actually, that's Western Australians...

http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/anonymous@FFC92904059+0/-/p/dict/slang-s.html

[frou-frou.livejournal.com]

that's right: there's even a cute little cartoon character to represent what one looks like. Presumably it's a reference to the fact that Perth is built on sand. There are plenty of other sandy parts in WA too, but being such a big place there's a lot of diversity and some bits even have English type surroundings.

[lordstorm.livejournal.com]

Er, no: we find ourselves referring "up" to towns in the north and "down" to towns in the south, just like everyone else (towns to the east and west are just "over"): "up" to Brisbane, "down" to Hobart, "over" to Adelaide.

We're not all that nonsensical down here. :P

But I will mention New South Welshers have a giant superiority complex, something to do with being the first state established when Australia was founded over 200 years ago. However, they conveniently forget the fact that when we became a Federation in 1901, it was in fact Melbourne that was the capital of Australia and that had the biggest population, until Sydney complained majorly, and 15 years later Canberra was constructed. ;)

And South Australians are usually referred as "crow eaters".