Where "Full-on" Comes From
"Full-on" is a fairly direct extension of standard English "full on" โ running at full capacity or full power โ stretched by Australians to describe anything intense, chaotic, or overwhelming, whether that thing is good, bad, or somewhere in between.
Its flexibility is a big part of its appeal: a full-on week, a full-on argument, a full-on party can all use the same word to mean "a lot happened" without needing to specify whether that's a compliment or a complaint.
Source:
"That party was full-on."
How Aussies Actually Use It
Used to dial up almost any description โ a full-on schedule, a full-on storm, a full-on personality โ always signalling that whatever's being described is more intense than usual.
Tone of voice usually tells you whether it's meant as a complaint or as praise.
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