Fair dinkum means fair play, genuine, fair dinkum is sometimes used as a question to confirm the truth or genuineness of something. A fair-dinkum Aussie is an Australian who demonstrates the nation’s values. Dinkum first appears in England in the nineteenth century, meaning honest toil. When miners brought the word to Australia in the late 1800s, fair was added to create the term fair dinkum, extending the meaning to honesty or fair play. Fair dinkum is now primarily used in Australia and New Zealand. In 2007 an airline passenger, when told by an attendant that there were no pretzels available, muttered “Fair dinkum?”, meaning “Seriously?”, or “For real?” The attendant took the phrase as swearing, the passenger was detained by authorities until she convinced them that fair dinkum is an innocuous phrase.
Examples
Treasurer Scott Morrison has vowed to pursue a “fair dinkum” tax reform process, refusing to rule out consideration of superannuation, capital gains negative gearing and the GST. (The Australian)
“However, if Palmer was fair dinkum about the issue, he would have already facilitated discussions between the farmers and the Federal Government, spoken on the matter in parliament and at the very least actively pursued the matter with the relevant ministers.” (The Sunshine Coast Daily)
If they do it, fair dinkum, Wales will just have to beat the Aussies. (The South Wales Argus)
New Zealanders and Australians feel pretty good about each other – the Aussies like us more than anyone else in the world, and we overwhelmingly think Australia is a fair dinkum partner. (The New Zealand Herald)
Born to a father from Yorkshire and a fair dinkum Aussie mother in the small rural town of Mudgee, four-hours west of Sydney, Downes grew up on a farm along with six siblings. (The Gloucestershire Echo)
Check out some others we covered: