Traditional
Slightly old-fashioned
Definition
Alone.
Example Sentence
"He was on his Pat Malone all night."
Where "Pat Malone" Comes From
Rhyming slang for "alone," using an Irish-sounding name whose surname rhymes neatly with the word it stands in for — a common trick in rhyming slang of borrowing an everyday name purely for its sound.
It reflects the strong Irish influence on early Australian slang, alongside plenty of other borrowed names and phrases.
How Aussies Actually Use It
Almost always used in the phrase "on his/her Pat Malone," meaning entirely by oneself — "he was on his Pat Malone all night" simply means he was alone.
It's a slightly old-fashioned turn of phrase now, more likely to be heard from an older relative than a younger one.
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