Article on Aussie slang

Fri Aug 5,12:19 AM ET
Language of Oz fights the furphy

SYDNEY, (AFP) - If a larrikin bashed a tall poppy from the big end of town and his mate dobbed him in, he might tell the police the identity was a shonky operator. The identity, no doubt, would try to hose it down as a furphy.

A historian recently lamented the fading of Australia's unique slang, but a newcomer to the land of Oz might find the language used in the country's newspapers as startling as some of its bizarre fauna.

Aw, they didn't say what a "Fred" is (or is it a F.R.E.D.?). I'm referring to the spray painted "NO FRED" on the warning sign in the photo.