(Australia) Brave, daring, full of pluck, willing.
(Australia) Brave, daring, full of pluck, willing.
as game as Ned Kelly means: Brave, daring, full of pluck, willing.. It is mainly Australian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
as game as Ned Kelly means: Brave, daring, full of pluck, willing.. It is mainly Australian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Add your own interpretation of "as game as Ned Kelly".
Aussie and Kiwi vocabulary — bogan, daggy, brekkie, sheila, bach, jandals — the whole Antipodean lexicon, including outback dialect, surf and beach culture, and Sydney/Melbourne street slang.
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(AU, simile, informal) Extremely game or courageous.
(slang, chiefly, AU) A figure or person who, like Ned Kelly, shows great bravery, daring, tenacity, or ferocity.
(slang, chiefly, AU) A figure or person akin to the iconic Australian bushranger Ned Kelly, typically denoting someone with audacious recklessness or morally questionable business dealings, or who opposes or defies authority.
(slang, chiefly, AU) An instance of behaviour that exemplifies such characteristics.
as game as Ned Kelly means: Brave, daring, full of pluck, willing.. Register: informal, Australian English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
(UK, slang, dated) Having courage and spirit; plucky.