Where "Ripper" Comes From
In British dialect, "ripper" described something excellent or outstanding from the 1830s — the OED's earliest evidence for the slang meaning "very efficient or excellent person or thing" dates to 1838, derived from "ripping" in the sense of "splendid." Australian English adopted it enthusiastically, and "you little ripper!" became a characteristic exclamation of delight at good fortune or a well-timed sporting moment. The OED's earliest specifically Australian evidence dates to 1973, though the word was certainly in wider use before it was formally documented.
The intensified form "you little ripper!" is particularly associated with Australian sporting commentary, delivered with genuine, immediate joy. The paradox of calling something "little" while treating it as enormous is very Australian — understatement and enthusiasm in the same breath.
Source:
"That was a ripper of a game!"
How Aussies Actually Use It
"Ripper" works as an exclamation on its own ("you little ripper!") or as a description, as in "that was a ripper of a game."
It's a warm, enthusiastic word, often used to celebrate something unexpectedly good, from a sporting win to a stroke of luck.
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