Where "Shoot Through Like a Bondi Tram" Comes From
"Shoot through like a Bondi tram" captures speed and sudden departure through the specific mechanics of the now-defunct Bondi tram service. Because trams cannot pass each other, services left the city in pairs — an express tram shot through ahead of the other, non-stop to Bondi Junction. This operational reality gave the phrase its particular accuracy. The expression dates from the 1940s, when it was also used in WWII services slang for going AWOL.
The phrase survived long after Sydney's trams stopped running in 1960 — kept alive by the vividness of the image and the nostalgia attached to it. The Macquarie Dictionary has described it as a phrase that may be making a cultural comeback. It describes anyone or anything that leaves quickly and decisively, without stopping to say goodbye.
Source: Macquarie Dictionary — "Will 'shoot through like the Bondi tram' make a comeback?"
"The second the boss left, he shot through like a Bondi tram."
How Aussies Actually Use It
It's used whenever someone leaves suddenly or in a hurry, often to avoid an awkward situation, a bill, or an unwanted task.
It pairs naturally with other hasty-exit phrases in Australian slang, painting the same picture of someone making a fast, decisive getaway.
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