Where "Fairy Floss" Comes From
The cotton candy machine was invented in the US in 1897 and the treat was sold as "Fairy Floss" at the 1904 World's Fair. Australians still call it "fairy floss," while Americans say "cotton candy" and the British say "candy floss." We can't say when the name took hold in Australia, but it has been standard for a long time.
Sources: Cotton candy (Wikipedia) · fairy floss (Wiktionary)
“Can we get fairy floss before we go on the Ferris wheel?”
“She had pink fairy floss all over her face.”
"The kids came back from the Show covered in fairy floss."
How Aussies Actually Use It
Strongly associated with agricultural shows ("the Show") and fairgrounds.
Fairy floss is the everyday Australian name, and most people simply use it without thinking. It is a kid's word in a way, associated with treats, fairgrounds and days out, but adults say it too. It is usually bought as a pink or blue cloud on a paper cone and eaten quickly before it goes sticky or dissolves.
Because it is a food you buy at an event, it usually turns up in conversation about a day out: the Show, a fair, a carnival or the beach. Learners coming from North America should swap "cotton candy" for "fairy floss" if they want to be understood without a pause, and those from Britain will know it as candy floss. It is also sometimes used to describe something light, sweet and lacking substance, though this is less common.
See also: Fairy Bread (another sweet party food), Dagwood Dog (another classic show snack), Chiko Roll (another fairground-style snack).
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