Where "Chuck a Sixer" Comes From
“Chuck a sixer” (also “throw a sixer”) is Australian slang for becoming hysterical or losing your temper. Green’s Dictionary of Slang also lists a second Australian sense, to vomit, and notes it is related to “chuck a seven”. Its etymology note links it to “chuck” plus a figurative use of the Australian rules football word “sixer”, a scoring kick.
The earliest dated use in Green’s is 1951, in Dal Stivens’ novel Jimmy Brockett, where a character says “I thought he was going to throw a sixer.” A 1955 Australian book defines it as going off the deep end. In 1984 Eric Partridge’s Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English gave “throw sixers” as meaning to vomit heartily, and called the usage Australian from the twentieth century.
Source:
“Dad nearly chucked a sixer when he saw the dent in the ute.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
Green’s records it both for losing your temper and for vomiting, and has no modern examples, so check the sense from the context. For a similar outburst, try “chuck a wobbly” or “spit the dummy”.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: CHUK a SIK-ser.
In conversation:
- Dad nearly chucked a sixer when he saw the bill.
- She chucked a sixer in the car park.
- Don’t chuck a sixer, it’s only a dent.
Good to know: It means losing your temper, and in the past it could also mean vomiting. It’s mostly an old-fashioned word.
See also: Chuck a wobbly, Spit the dummy, Chunder
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