Dosh

๐Ÿ’ฐ noun ยท Money
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Traditional Somewhat dated
Definition
A casual, slightly old-fashioned word for cash.
Example Sentence
"I don't have enough dosh to buy that right now."

Where "Dosh" Comes From

"Dosh" is a British slang term dating back to at least the 1950s. Its exact origin is unclear, though one theory links it to "doss," meaning cheap lodging โ€” you needed dosh to pay for a place to doss down for the night.

It arrived in Australia as part of the shared British-Australian slang heritage and has stuck around in informal speech ever since, even as some other British money slang faded out locally.

ORIGIN STORY
๐ŸŽฅ Origin Story video coming soon
Word Type
Noun
Category
๐Ÿ’ฐ Money
Origin
๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ Australian English
Usage
Informal / Spoken
Era
Traditional

How Aussies Actually Use It

"Dosh" is a bit dated compared to newer terms, but it's still widely understood and used, especially by older generations or in a knowingly old-fashioned, joking way.

It works the same as "cash" in a sentence โ€” you'd talk about having enough dosh, needing more dosh, or being short on dosh.

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Watch Down Under English on YouTube for real Australian pronunciation, slang lessons, and culture โ€” taught by an Australian educator.

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