Traditional
Still common
Definition
Loutish, uncouth person.
Example Sentence
"There were yobbos causing trouble outside."
Where "Yobbo" Comes From
Believed to derive from "yob," itself thought to be "boy" spelled backwards in old British slang, used to describe rowdy or badly behaved young men.
The word travelled from Britain into Australian English, picking up the extended "-o" ending common across much of Australian slang.
How Aussies Actually Use It
A disapproving term for anti-social or badly behaved individuals — "there were yobbos causing trouble outside" implies rowdiness and poor manners.
It suggests minor troublemaking or loutish behaviour rather than serious criminality, often applied to rowdy groups outside pubs or at sporting events.
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