bodgie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Colloquial, Historical (in original youth sense); Regional (Australian/New Zealand)
Quick answer
What does “bodgie” mean?
A person, typically a male youth, who is showy, flashy, or adopts a particular subcultural style (especially from 1950s Australia).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, typically a male youth, who is showy, flashy, or adopts a particular subcultural style (especially from 1950s Australia).
Something that is fake, defective, or of poor quality; not genuine. Can also refer to a style of rock and roll music or associated fashion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Virtually unknown in American English. In British English, it is recognized only as a historical or esoteric Australianism.
Connotations
In its regional context, can carry nostalgic, humorous, or mildly derogatory tones depending on usage.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both UK and US. Its use is mostly confined to discussions of Australian culture or history.
Grammar
How to Use “bodgie” in a Sentence
be + a + bodgie (He's a real bodgie.)adjective + bodgie (an old bodgie)bodgie + noun (a bodgie repair job)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bodgie” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not used as a verb.
American English
- Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- He made a bodgie attempt to fix the tap.
American English
- The software patch seems completely bodgie.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical/cultural studies discussing 1950s Australasian youth culture.
Everyday
In Australia/NZ, can be used humorously to describe something fake or poorly made ('This charger is bodgie.').
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bodgie”
- Using it to describe a fashionable person positively (it's usually derogatory or historical).
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Assuming it's widely understood outside Australia/NZ.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually not. When describing a person historically, it was often used by outsiders disapprovingly. When describing an object, it means fake or shoddy.
You can, but most people won't understand it unless they are familiar with Australian culture. It would be considered a very obscure word.
In 1950s Australasia, a 'bodgie' was a male member of the subculture, and a 'widgie' was the female counterpart.
It's plausible but not definitively proven. The 'fake/defective' meaning aligns with 'bodge' (a clumsy repair). The origin of the youth sense is uncertain.
A person, typically a male youth, who is showy, flashy, or adopts a particular subcultural style (especially from 1950s Australia).
Bodgie is usually informal, colloquial, historical (in original youth sense); regional (australian/new zealand) in register.
Bodgie: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒdʒi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːdʒi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As bodgie as a three-dollar note (Aussie simile for something fake).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BODGe job - something poorly repaired or fake. A 'bodgie' person or thing is like a bodge.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAKERY IS A PERSON (The defective object is personified as a 'bodgie'). SOCIAL REBELLION IS A STYLIZED PERFORMANCE.
Practice
Quiz
In which country is the term 'bodgie' primarily used and understood?