"What a bottler of a try in the last minute of the game!"
Where "Bottler" Comes From
"Bottler" is shorthand for the older Australian compliment "your blood's worth bottling" โ the idea that someone is so admirable, their blood would be worth preserving.
The full phrase dates back to at least 1903 and gained extra traction with Australian soldiers in the First World War. "Bottler" split off as a standalone compliment, applying the same high praise to people, performances, or things.
How Aussies Actually Use It
It's a general-purpose word of high praise, often used for a great sporting moment, a top mate, or anything else genuinely impressive.
You'll hear it as "a bottler of a [noun]" โ a bottler of a goal, a bottler of a bloke โ or simply "what a bottler" on its own.
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