"Don't be such a sook, it's just a scratch."
Where "Sook" Comes From
Likely derived from "suck," an old English dialect term for a young, weak animal such as a suckling lamb, which evolved into a description of someone acting weak or overly sensitive.
The word travelled into Australian and New Zealand English and softened into its current, everyday sense of a crybaby or overly delicate person.
How Aussies Actually Use It
Used across the country for anyone who complains excessively over something minor โ "don't be such a sook, it's just a scratch" is classic, no-nonsense toughening-up talk.
It's common between mates, parents and kids, or teammates, usually delivered with a mix of exasperation and affection rather than genuine cruelty.
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