Where "Dinky-di" Comes From
First recorded in the early 1900s, "dinky-di" was coined in Australia as an enthusiastic, rhyming elaboration of "dinkum" (which traces back to an English dialect term for hard work). Australian Diggers embraced "dinky-di" in the trenches of Gallipoli and the Western Front during the First World War to distinguish genuine comrades from impostors, cementing it as an eternal symbol of national authenticity.
"He's a dinky-di country bloke who's never left the farm."
How Aussies Actually Use It
Dinky-di is high praise for a person or thing that is the real deal, especially someone who is genuinely, typically Australian.
It is a close relative of "fair dinkum". You will hear it in phrases such as "a dinky-di Aussie", and you can also use it for a product or a place that feels authentic.
See also: Fair dinkum (genuine, true, honest).
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: DING-kee DYE.
In conversation:
- That’s a dinky-di Aussie pie, none of your fancy stuff.
- She’s dinky-di, you can trust her word.
- A dinky-di Aussie barbecue means snags, bread and onions.
Good to know: It means genuine or the real deal, and it often comes before “Aussie”.
See also: Fair dinkum, True blue, Ridgy-didge
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