The 'unwritten rule' in Australia that everyone follows without question
- Aussies have come up with a universal list of 'unwritten rules' Down Under
- Do you have one for the rule book? Drop it in the comments
- Read more: I've noticed a bizarre 'distinctly Australian' taste in ALL food here
Aussies have spilled the 'unwritten rules' locals follow without question - and it makes for some genuinely relatable and amusing reading.
A curious Swiss woman set out to understand these 'rules' after developing an interest in the culture Down Under - and what she got back was a mix of logic, chaos and oddly specific behaviour that locals follow without a second thought.
There were the classics: walk on the left, click the tongs before starting the BBQ, give a thank you wave on the road, always thank the bus driver and never jump a queue.
Then things got more specific.
One of the most agreed upon rules was about shoes.
'If you leave them outside always check to see that nothing has decided to make a home there before you put your shoes back on,' a woman wrote.
The beach, meanwhile, has its own code of conduct.
'If someone has wrapped their personal belongings in a towel on the beach and gone for a swim, that towel is more secure than a bank vault. DON'T BLOODY TOUCH IT,' one local urged.
'If someone has wrapped their personal belongings in a towel on the beach and gone for a swim, that towel is more secure than a bank vault. DON'T BLOODY TOUCH IT,' one local urged
Many were passionate about sticking to the left on paths, elevators and stairs, no matter what
'You would never steal something at the beach,' another agreed.
'Obviously most people wouldn't steal stuff anyway, but leaving beach bags (with car keys, phone) on the beach unattended is standard behaviour at most beaches here.'
One of the most amusing moments for the Swiss woman was learning of the term 'bring a plate'.
'"Bring a plate" does not mean bring a literal plate. It means bringing food to share at a function, usually in someone's home,' a woman explained.
'Glad you said that. I would've shown up with just a plate,' the original poster replied.
Even kitchen drawers made the list, with one woman confidently outlining what she described as the universal system.
'Kitchen drawers are always cutlery in top drawer, utensils in second drawer, third drawer for cling wrap, foil, baking paper and reusable sandwich/food bags, and bottom drawer for tea towels and everything else.'
Then there's the way Australians actually speak to each other, which is where things get slightly more layered.
The phrase 'your mate' came up a lot - a seemingly friendly phrase used to describe someone you (or friends) dislike.
'If person A and person B don't like each other, any time you reference person B around person A, use the term "your mate",' a man said, explaining the rule.
'For example: I was getting a burger down the road, and in walks your mate.'
Others also mentioned 'playing things down' or 'softening' things to avoid uncomfortable encounters.
'Relative to the Swiss we are less blunt. And if we need to pass on a message that the recipient might find uncomfortable, it is often couched in humour or played down to avoid mutual embarrassment,' one man said.
Then there was the word 'fine'.
To a Swiss person, 'fine' might mean good. In Australia, it absolutely does not, most agreed.
'A lot of Swiss [and other foreigners] say "fine" when they mean to say "good". If a waiter checks on you and says how is the meal, and you say "fine", you just told him that it's sh*t but you don't want to make a fuss. Always say good,' a hospitality worker explained.
The thread quickly filled with hundreds of Aussies adding their own contributions, each one more specific than the last.
And while everyone clearly had a great time unpacking the nation's rules, the poster may have walked away with more questions than she started with - mainly around 'no worries', why Australians insist on inventing fake animals for tourists, and what 'yeah, nah' actually means.
What unwritten Aussie rule do you think is most important, and have you ever seen someone break it?
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