dinky-di

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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Fanciful diminutive form of dinkum.

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

dinky-di (not comparable) (Australia, slang)

  1. Genuine, true.
    • 1950, Nevil Shute, A Town Like Alice, published 2010, unnumbered page:
      ‘Is that dinky-die?’ he asked. ‘You came on to Australia because of me?’
    • 1962, Show: The Magazine of the Arts, volume 2, page 74:
      Since Miss McKendry is a dinky-die Aussie with an accent thick as a kangaroo′s tail, she was hexed from the start.
    • 1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber, published 2003, page 282:
      ‘I was nearly a doctor,’ she said.
      ‘Fair dinkum?’
      Dinky-di.’
    • 1986, Tony Wheeler, Australia, A Travel Survival Kit[1], volume 4, page 43:
      For real value for money there are a couple of dinky-die Australian eating places you should certainly try, though.
  2. (by extension) Authentically Australian.
    • 2009, Harry Blackley, Korean Rose[2], page 99:
      “Wonderful! By the time we′re old I'll be able to speak like an Australian.”
      “No way. You′ll never be dinky die. Your English is much too cultured. Just like you.”
    • 2009, Madeleine St. John, The Women in Black[3], page 155:
      ‘Come and meet Sandor and Eva, and here is their son Miklos, all right, Michael he insists on being now, he is dinky-die as they say, a proper Australian, he even forgets how to speak Hungarian, he has just left school like you— [] .’
  3. Honest, on the level.
    • 1959, Helen Marjorie Fowler, Hold a Bright Mirror[4], page 98:
      And if you want my dinky-die advice, you′ll let me take you to the cops.
  4. True blue, steadfastly loyal.
    • 1939, Australian Parliament, Parliamentary Debates[5], volume 162, page 1254:
      These men to whom I am referring are “dinky-die” diggers and patriots.

Synonyms[edit]