Traditional
Still common
Definition
A very hot, unpleasant day — used interchangeably with "scorcher."
Example Sentence
"Today's an absolute stinker, stay inside if you can."
Where "Stinker" Comes From
"Stinker" has long been general English slang for anything unpleasant or unbearable — applying it to weather is a natural extension of that broader, older usage.
Australians lean on it especially heavily for describing brutally hot, humid days, where the discomfort of the heat matches the word's generally negative tone.
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How Aussies Actually Use It
"Stinker" carries a slightly more negative, complaining edge than "scorcher" — it's what you'd say when the heat is genuinely miserable, not just impressively hot.
It's common in casual complaints about the weather, especially paired with humidity: "it's humid too, what an absolute stinker."
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