Not firmly dated
Still common
Definition
A 285mL beer glass — the standard mid-size pub pour in NSW, WA and several other regions.
🎥 Watch
Where "Middy" Comes From
Part of Australia's famously chaotic regional beer-glass naming system. The Macquarie Dictionary says a middy is about 285mL and is the name used in the NT, NSW, ACT and WA and parts of Queensland, while the same size is a "pot" in Victoria and Tasmania and a "schooner" in South Australia. We haven't found a date for when the names began.
Sources: A deep dive into Aussie beer sizes (Macquarie Dictionary) · Pot glass (Wikipedia)
Example Sentence
"I'll just get a middy, driving tonight."
How Aussies Actually Use It
Ask for a "middy" in Victoria and you'll likely get a blank look — order a "pot" instead. For more on how beer-glass names change from state to state, see the Regional Slang Map.
🎓 Want to sound like a true Aussie?
Watch Down Under English on YouTube for real Australian pronunciation, slang lessons, and culture — taught by an Australian educator.
Watch on YouTube →