A recent court decision has left many Australians angry.
The case involving Senator Pauline Hanson and Senator Mehreen Faruqi highlights significant issues around racial discrimination and freedom of speech in Australian politics. In September 2022, after Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi criticised Queen Elizabeth II and the legacy of British colonialism in the wake of her death, Senator Hanson responded on social media, telling Faruqi to “piss off back to Pakistan.” This comment sparked widespread debate and led to legal action, with Faruqi pursuing a complaint under Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act.
A federal court judge recently ruled that Hanson’s statement did indeed constitute racial discrimination, as it implied that Faruqi did not belong in Australia due to her Pakistani heritage and Moslem background. The court found that Hanson's remark was not simply a response to political discourse but was instead tied to Faruqi’s race and ethnicity, making it discriminatory. This ruling underscores the limits of public officials’ comments, even under the protection of parliamentary privilege and free speech in Australia.
Well, I feel moved to write about this from an Australian perspective.
This latest round of outrage over slurs and language threaten to destroy our national identity.
In fact, today's article is all about the word and what it means and how it is used in Australia. In the land Down Under, piss is so much more than just a word. It’s a lifestyle, an attitude, a tool of the true-blue Aussie vernacular. It’s a linguistic Swiss Army knife, capable of expressing everything from weather conditions to emotions. And it may very well leave tourists more bewildered than a kangaroo on a roundabout.
The word piss comes from the Old French word pissier, which in turn derived from the Vulgar Latin pissiare (or pissiare), meaning "to urinate." The word entered Middle English around the 13th century and retained its original meaning of urination. Everyone here knows that a piss pot is not a place to urinate... it is someone who tends to over imbibe in alcoholic beverages.
In English, piss has evolved to hold both literal and figurative meanings, often used as a crude or informal term. It’s also developed as a part of phrases like “pissed off” (meaning angry) and “take the piss” (British slang meaning to tease). While quite direct, these expressions have nothing to do with anything or anyone on a personal level.
I was teasing Redhead this morning because she did some pruning in the garden, despite my having begged her to leave it to the pruners who had just done a fantastic job but oh no, she wanted to just give it a final " tidy up" of her potted plants. Now, her shoulders are giving her hell. I told her that my sympathy was running a bit low.
She told me to " piss off. " We both laughed.
Strangely enough, neither Redhead nor I would ever use that term to suggest we need the bathroom. In fact, we would find it vulgar and unpleasant. Yet we happily use the word in its more figurative meaning.
It is the Australian way.
Australia is known for its unique creatures, vast landscapes, and hearty slang that would leave even the hardiest of linguists scratching their heads. Among our " strine " treasures, none is more beloved - or versatile - than piss. This humble four-letter word has journeyed far beyond its literal meaning, morphing into a multipurpose gem used for everything from telling someone to go away (or another favourite " bugger off " to describing a rainy day.
If an Aussie tells you they're “taking the piss,” don’t reach for the key to the nearest restroom. This simply means we’re having a laugh , giving a good-natured ribbing. We Australians pride ourselves on our laid-back sense of humour, where everyone’s fair game for a bit of banter. We love "taking the piss" out of our mates, celebrities, politicians, and sometimes even ourselves. It’s like a national sport, minus the trophy or rules.
“Aw, mate, don’t get all stroppy ... I’m just taking the piss!” - stroppy meaning angry.
Now, if you’re in someone’s way, annoying them, or just hanging around too long, you might be told to “piss off.” We Australians use it to mean “go away” in the bluntest, but somehow still in a friendly way. Where other countries might use long-winded apologies or polite excuses, we Aussies have perfected this directness into an art form. It’s part of our charm.
“Piss off, will ya? Can’t you see we’re watching the game?”
Australia’s climate is famously unpredictable, and when it rains, it doesn’t just drizzle—it pisses down. When the skies are “pissing down,” you’d better find cover or prepare to be drenched.
“Hell, it’s pissing down out there! Better grab me thongs!”
(Note: For the uninitiated, thongs are flip-flops in Australia. Don’t worry, we’re not dashing out in underwear.)
Note: The steel caps are fake. That is misinformation. Someone needs to pass this on to the E-Safety commissioner.
To add yet another layer of complexity, pissed in Australia can mean either drunk or angry, depending on context. That’s right, we Aussies managed to consolidate two major emotions into a single word. It’s a remarkable feat, although one that might confuse visitors.
“Mate, you should’ve seen Steve at the pub - he was pissed!” (Here, Steve was likely drunk. Or angry. Or both. Context is everything.)
So where does that leave Pauline Hanson, Mehreen Faruqi and the Federal Court Judge?
In my honest opinion, any Australian will tell you that being told to piss off is as Australian as a meat pie at the footie or being called a bastard: it is just the way we are.
And if you don't like it, or us, then maybe you should piss off and go somewhere else....
Like Pakistan for example?
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