southerly buster: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Regional (Australian), Meteorological
Quick answer
What does “southerly buster” mean?
A specific, powerful, cold windstorm that suddenly arrives on the southeastern coast of Australia, typically after a period of hot weather.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific, powerful, cold windstorm that suddenly arrives on the southeastern coast of Australia, typically after a period of hot weather.
Any sudden, violent, and cold southerly wind, especially one marking a dramatic weather change. The term is also used metaphorically to describe a sudden, disruptive force or event.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
This term is not native to British or American English. In British English, it would be an understood borrowed term for an Australian phenomenon. In American English, the concept of a sudden cold wind might be compared to a 'norther' (in the Southern US) or an 'arctic blast', but these are not direct equivalents.
Connotations
In Australian English, it connotes a dramatic, refreshing, sometimes destructive weather change. For non-Australians, it primarily carries a geographical/technical connotation.
Frequency
Very frequent in Australian weather reports and colloquial speech. Extremely rare in British or American usage outside of specific contexts (e.g., discussing Australian weather, travel writing).
Grammar
How to Use “southerly buster” in a Sentence
The southerly buster VERB (arrived/hit/roared through).We got/caught a southerly buster.A southerly buster is expected/forecast.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “southerly buster” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A - not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A - not used attributively as a standard adjective. One might say 'southerly-buster conditions' in informal writing.
American English
- N/A - not used attributively as a standard adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'The new regulations hit the market like a southerly buster.'
Academic
Used in meteorology, geography, and Australian studies papers to describe the specific phenomenon.
Everyday
Common in Australian casual conversation about weather: 'Better shut the windows before the southerly buster gets here.'
Technical
Used in meteorological forecasts and reports for southeastern Australia, with specific criteria for wind speed and temperature drop.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “southerly buster”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “southerly buster”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “southerly buster”
- Using it to describe any strong wind from the south outside of the Australian context.
- Misspelling as 'southern buster'.
- Using it as a general synonym for 'breeze'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a specific type of cold front windstorm, not a tropical cyclone. It is shorter in duration and lacks the organised eye and structure of a hurricane.
You can use it, but it will be recognised as an Australian term. Listeners may not know the specifics unless you provide context. In the US, you might compare it to a 'Texas Norther' for understanding.
It is most common and notable in the Austral spring and summer (October to March), when it provides relief from heatwaves, but it can occur in other seasons.
'Buster' in 19th-century Australian slang meant something powerful or striking. It effectively means a wind that 'busts' or breaks through the preceding hot, still conditions.
A specific, powerful, cold windstorm that suddenly arrives on the southeastern coast of Australia, typically after a period of hot weather.
Southerly buster is usually informal, regional (australian), meteorological in register.
Southerly buster: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊð.ə.li ˈbʌs.tər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊð.ɚ.li ˈbʌs.tɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hit like a southerly buster (to arrive with sudden, disruptive force).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: a wind from the SOUTH that BUSTS through the heat, leaving things cooler and more frantic.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SUDDEN CHANGE IS A PHYSICAL IMPACT (It hit us). / NATURE IS A FORCEFUL AGENT (The buster roared).
Practice
Quiz
In which regional variety of English is the term 'southerly buster' a standard, commonly used expression?