bickie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Primarily in informal Australian/New Zealand contexts and some UK informal use)Informal, colloquial, often childish or affectionate
Quick answer
What does “bickie” mean?
A small, sweet, baked snack, typically a biscuit or cookie.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, sweet, baked snack, typically a biscuit or cookie.
Used figuratively to mean something minor, especially in phrases like 'a bickie' referring to a small unit of money or reward. Also used as a colloquial term for a biscuit or cookie, often in childish or affectionate language.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK informal usage, 'bickie' is a childish/colloquial variant of 'biscuit'. In American English, it is essentially unknown; the equivalent term would be 'cookie' or 'cracker'. The figurative 'money' sense is almost exclusively Australian/NZ.
Connotations
In the UK, connotes informality, childishness, or endearment. In Australia/NZ, also carries the connotation of a small reward or earnings.
Frequency
Very rare in American English. Low frequency in UK English, primarily in family/child contexts. More established in Australian and New Zealand English, including the figurative sense.
Grammar
How to Use “bickie” in a Sentence
[Verb] + a/the bickie (e.g., have, want, earn)[Adjective] + bickie (e.g., nice, chocolate)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Never used.
Everyday
Informal contexts, talking to children, casual Australian/NZ speech about small earnings.
Technical
Never used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bickie”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using the plural 'bickies' in the figurative money sense (though 'a few bickie' is treated as plural).
- Assuming Americans will understand it.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an informal, colloquial, or slang variant of 'biscuit' or 'cookie', primarily used in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
It is not recommended, as most Americans will not understand it. Use 'cookie' or 'cracker' instead.
This is primarily Australian and New Zealand slang meaning to earn a small amount of money.
The standard singular form 'a bickie' is most common, even for multiple items in casual speech (e.g., 'Have a bickie'). The form 'bickies' is sometimes heard, but the figurative money sense uses 'bickie' as a mass/countable noun (e.g., 'a few bickie').
A small, sweet, baked snack, typically a biscuit or cookie.
Bickie is usually informal, colloquial, often childish or affectionate in register.
Bickie: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɪk.i/, and in American English it is pronounced Not standard; approximation would be /ˈbɪk.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “earn a few bickie (Aus/NZ: earn some money)”
- “That's the way the bickie crumbles (humorous variant of 'cookie')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BICKering child who wants a BICKie to stop arguing.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS FOOD (specifically, a small snack) as in 'earn a few bickie'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bickie' LEAST likely to be used?