1920s
Still common
Definition
If an Aussie "hasn't got a brass razoo," they're completely broke — and a "razoo" isn't a real coin, it never has been.
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Where "Brass Razoo" Comes From
The word is first recorded in 1919, with the full phrase turning up by 1927, likely in WWI soldiers' slang.
Nobody actually knows where "razoo" comes from — theories range from a mangled version of the French "sou," to a Māori word, to soldiers joking it sounds like blowing a raspberry. Even the Australian National Dictionary Centre admits the origin remains a genuine mystery.
Example Sentence
After the divorce he didn't have a brass razoo to his name.
How Aussies Actually Use It
Almost always used in the negative — "haven't got a brass razoo" — to mean completely, emphatically broke.
A cheerful, self-deprecating way to admit you're skint, rather than a serious statement of financial hardship.
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