long-eared guinea pig

(AU, humorous) A rabbit, or rabbit meat.

Australian humorous euphemism for rabbit or rabbit meat, playing on the animal's burrowing habits and the fact that rabbit was a common cheap protein source during hard times. The term captures a wry Australian fondness for deadpan nicknames that make something unglamorous sound almost respectable. Still understood in Australia, though rabbit is less central to the diet than it once was.

Any tailless rodent of the genus , which have short ears and superficially resemble large hamsters.

(figuratively) A living experimental subject.

A dry Australian humorous term for rabbit or rabbit meat — because rabbits live underground and, in a pinch, taste a bit like mutton. The phrase reflects Australia's complicated relationship with rabbits: they're a devastating introduced pest, but they've also been a source of cheap food during hard times, particularly in the Great Depression. Calling it 'underground mutton' is classic Australian deadpan.