Thread: Brand names

Stillsons - plumbers pipe wrench
Footprints - as above, brand name originally?
vise grips - locking pliers
pc - personal computer, originally an IBM model though - does this count?
Skilsaw - circular saw (american only?)
Laserlite - plastic roofing
loctite - thread locking compound
dustbuster - mini vacuum
shop vac - shed or utility vacuum
workmate - portable bench/vise
whippersnipper - line trimmer
bendix - colloq for mechanical workings (US I think)
cornflakes, weetbix
jet ski, skidoo - personal watercraft (straight out of the ad)
frisbee - flying disc


cheers........Sean

What a great list. Here are some of the thoughts I had:

1. Some are so ingrained that at first I didn't believe they really started off as a brand name.
2. Some items you have to use the brand name because you don't know what the real word is (eg what is a frisbee really called?)
3. Some are old names that were big in their time but have now passed
4. Some items even have more than one common brand name (must have been some intervention from ASIC about monopolies)

Good effort guys

dont forget hardiplank

Potato Cakes in Vic are really Potato scallops up here

One for the Poms who have just arrived:
DUREX Hohohohohoho.....Sellotape.

Originally Posted by barnsey

Potato Cakes in Vic are really Potato scallops up here

Barnsey,

They got me in Coffs Harbour a few years ago with that one. Scallops for 50c each and I ordered eight of them. Went across the road for a quick beer whilst the order was being cooked. Came back, paid and went back to the Motel to eat the fish and scallops!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

What do you call scallops up there?

It was 7 years ago and I have almost got over it. They must get every Mexican that drives through the place.

Originally Posted by Wood Borer

What do you call scallops up there?

We call them scallops

Or sometimes Tasmanian scallops

when we arrived here and my son was plunged into the Australian school system he had to learn a new vocabulary. When he went back to uk a few years later he then had to unlearn it.

Just some of the words that have confused us both.

crisps = cold chips
chips = hot chips

trousers = pants

His bilingual vocabulary leads to interesting discussions ... I can't find my pants ... are you looking for your english pants (knickers )or your australian pants ( trousers) ?

plaster = bandaid
flip-flops = thongs
peppers = capsicum
aubergine = egg plant
courgette = zuccini
sweets = lollies
lolly = icy pole
verge = nature strip
park = reserve
rotary drier = hills hoist
flat = unit
bungalow = house
g-string=thongs
tights = panty hose
rubber = eraser .. have had a few arguments at work over this one
condom = rubber
cling film = glad wrap
exhaust pipe = muffler
spanner = wrench
duvet=doona
linen=manchester
trainers=runners
trunks = bathers
country=bush
ramble=bush walk
polo neck jumper = skivvy
tracksuit bottoms = trakky dacks
yobbo=hoon
yard = just under a metre
garden = yard
block = area bounded by 4 roads
field = paddock
estate car = station wagon


and sorry Iain would expect most poms to recognise the difference between the two brand names durex and sellotape

Originally Posted by jackiew

condom = rubber
exhaust pipe = muffler
trainers=runners
trunks = bathers
polo neck jumper = skivvy

just a few corrections here Jackie condom = franger ,rubber is a Yank term

We still have an exhaust pipe after the muffler. trainers = joggers ,runners is another Yank term. trunks = boardies ( aka boardshorts) bathers is a very old Aussie term not really in popular use anymore. A Polo neck jumper is a Polo neck Jumper. A Skivvy is the same sort of shape as the jumper but generally made out of a T-shirt like material.

Cheers Mark

Originally Posted by jackiew

condom = rubber
cling film = glad wrap

and in an emergency...
glad wrap = condom