tiki tour: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Regional - New Zealand English)Informal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “tiki tour” mean?
A long, indirect, or scenic route.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, indirect, or scenic route; a journey that takes a roundabout way to reach its destination.
Can refer to any unnecessarily complicated process or procedure, not just a physical journey.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is not standard in British or American English. Speakers from these regions would likely use alternatives like 'scenic route,' 'detour,' or 'roundabout way.'
Connotations
In NZE, it's a familiar colloquialism. In BrE/AmE, if encountered, it would be seen as a curious regional term requiring explanation.
Frequency
Virtually zero in BrE and AmE corpus data. Exclusively high-frequency in New Zealand English contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “tiki tour” in a Sentence
[Subject] took a tiki tour[Subject] went on a tiki tourIt was a real tiki tourVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tiki tour” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Could metaphorically describe an overly complex process: 'The approval system is a real tiki tour.'
Academic
Not used except in studies of NZE or Māori linguistics.
Everyday
Common in NZ informal conversation to describe journeys: 'We took a tiki tour through the hills to get here.'
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tiki tour”
- Using it outside NZ contexts without explanation.
- Spelling as 'ticki tour' or 'tikey tour'.
- Assuming it has a positive connotation of a planned sightseeing trip.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Only if you are explaining New Zealand English or speaking to an audience familiar with it. Otherwise, use 'detour' or 'scenic route.'
No. While it can be a pleasant scenic drive, it often carries a slight negative connotation of being unnecessarily long or indirect.
The standard spelling is as two separate words: 'tiki tour.' Hyphenation ('tiki-tour') is less common but occasionally seen.
It originates from New Zealand Māori, from 'tiki' (to fetch) describing a trip to collect something or someone, often involving a roundabout route.
A long, indirect, or scenic route.
Tiki tour is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Tiki tour: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɪki ˌtʊə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɪki ˌtʊr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To take the tiki tour (of somewhere)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Tiki' statue guiding you not directly, but on a winding, scenic path full of twists and turns.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / PROCESSES ARE PATHS (A 'tiki tour' is a complex, indirect path).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'tiki tour' a common colloquialism?