Where "Ridgy-Didge" Comes From
"Ridgy-didge" is a fanciful, rhyming piece of Australian wordplay built around the obsolete word "ridge," once used specifically in reference to genuine gold. It's been recorded in Australian slang since 1953, as a cheerful, reduplicated synonym for "dinkum."
The exact process that turned "ridge" into the sing-song "ridgy-didge" isn't fully documented, but it fits a broader Australian love of playful, rhyming embellishments on ordinary words — taking a fairly plain claim of authenticity and giving it a bit of extra rhythm and charm.
Source:
"That's a ridgy-didge antique, not a knock-off."
How Aussies Actually Use It
It's used much like "dinkum" - to vouch for something being authentic rather than fake or exaggerated.
It has a playful, old-fashioned ring to it, so it often gets a laugh even when making a serious point.
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