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Quick, Pandas, what are the first few things that pop into your mind when I mention Australia? If we were to go by stereotypes alone, odds are that you might have thought along the lines of poisonous wildlife, koalas, kangaroos, boisterous yet friendly locals, God-tier surfing, delicious barbeques, and all-around having a great time at the beach. However, Australia is far more than just what we learn about it from movies, TV shows, and the news (though those can help us get a better handle on the culture). And a lot of the magic lies in the language.

Sure, we might all be speaking English, but Australians have a whole host of colorful phrases, fun expressions, stunning slang and take some truly magnificent linguistic liberties that are just as impressive as the country’s vast biodiversity. And Bored Panda has traveled all over Twitter to share how non-Australians reacted when they learned about some of these interesting turns of phrase, as well as a sprinkling of some other interesting Aussie facts. Cultural quirks that we love? You bet! Of course, keep in mind that some of these phrases are just the internet having fun and taking the mickey.

Scroll down, upvote your favorite tweets, and let us know which of them made your day the most, dear Pandas. Personally, I think that saying ‘fairy floss’ instead of candy floss and calling astronauts ‘Austronauts’ is truly, deeply ingenious.

I was curious to learn about how differences in the same language develop in different places, how expressions get entrenched in languages, and how we can become more aware of fun linguistic tendencies in our native tongues, so I reached out to Lisa McLendon at the University of Kansas.

"Any living language is always changing, and different regions/groups/subcultures take the language in different directions," she told Bored Panda, adding that geography is also a "significant factor" in language change. Lisa is the William Allen White Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications and the coordinator of the Bremner Editing Center at KU. Scroll down for the full interview.

Lisa from KU shared with Bored Panda how certain expressions, like the fun Australian phrases featured in this article, become part of our everyday life and win out over alternatives.

"Some new words and phrases catch on quickly because they refer to something new: an object, an action, a job. Think about all the terms surrounding social media that didn’t exist 10 or 15 years ago. When a new thing comes along, we have to call it something," Lisa explained that innovation can drive changes in language.

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Popularity via media can be another way how slang spreads. "But then there are slang words and words that shift in meaning. Sometimes those move into the mainstream from a specific region, group, or subculture. How? One way is media: say a popular TV show, movie or song uses a word—lots of people are then hearing the word and it can make the transition from niche to national."

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Though not all expressions can boast about their longevity. Some are simply fads that fade into obscurity far too quickly while others become part of the essence of the language itself. "Sometimes these are a 'flash in the pan'—popular for a short time but quickly pass. Sometimes they stick around and are adopted into the lexicon. Why? It depends on a lot of factors that aren’t entirely predictable, such as whether the term is useful or adds something needed in the language."

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Lisa noted that nobody can force expressions to be adopted, this process needs to be natural. "The move needs to come from the users of the language: Most changes imposed from the 'top down' don’t stick."

What's more, Lisa told Bored Panda how we can become aware of some of the more interesting aspects of our language, such as all the colorful phrases that we use.

"The easiest (and most fun) way is through media from other cultures that speak the same language. For instance, if you’re an American English speaker, you’re in a new world of words when you watch Australian or British shows or movies, or even ones from the US that focus on a region or group different from your own. Language is a rich and beautiful thing, and with all the streaming options available now, it’s easy to find something that doesn’t have the 'same expressions all the time.'"

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Professor Christine Vogt, who heads Arizona State University’s Center for Sustainable Tourism, explained to Bored Panda that we should all take the time to learn about local customs and the language before heading abroad. In this case, it might mean catching up with Australian slang. This article might be a small primer, but you can find a more comprehensive list right here.

"More than likely that is what draws a person to visit a certain place. The more local knowledge a traveler has, the more a traveler can feel like a local and fit in," Christine told Bored Panda during an earlier interview.

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Alex
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But these are two difference cross breeds. A Sproodle (or more commonly used Spoodle) is a Springer Spaniel cross, a Cockapoo is a Cocker Spaniel cross. Also, I believe that the naming convention was dependent on which breed was the Ma and which one the Pa.

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"Local customs can include how a traveler dresses, eats, uses a cell phone, etc. When a traveler is out in a community such as walking in a downtown area or eating in a restaurant, these local customs can come into play,” the expert said.

“For example, in Buddhist countries, a woman who has not covered her shoulders or legs may not be allowed into temples or even a restaurant. Learn as many local customs as you can and a few key words to enhance your experience," the professor said that we should learn to adapt to the local cultures so we can enjoy them to the fullest. It’s best to participate them instead of looking in, lost, from the outside.

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Bron
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any time we can shorten a name we will. Unless it’s already short, then we make them longer 😂

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Marky Mark
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Canadian here - around here we call them that too (though it might be a local / regional thing)

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As I wrote in my earlier article about Australia being the ‘Land of Nope,’ there’s a lot of wildlife there that might make visitors to the country pause for a bit and reorganize their life priorities. Around 100 of the 170 snake species living in Australia are poisonous. Meanwhile, 21 of the world’s 25 most venomous snakes also call the Land Down Under their home. However, casualties are few and far between.

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SCREAMING CHILD
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's actually a common shortening/nickname for many things in Australia. Documentarys are doccos, people named Dave can be Davo, service stations are servos, bottle shops are bottle-os.

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What’s more, Australia’s also home to over 2.4k different species of arachnid. Though, keep in mind that fewer than 50 Australian spider species actually pose a threat to people. All the others are fairly friendly. One thing that should definitely help you get over the creepy crawlies is the colorful slang and the friendly locals. Australia’s more than its snakes and spiders. So much more.

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Anthony Picco
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have heard large coffee dispensers called "urns" my entire life here in America.

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Lindsey Judd-Bruder
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too. And I'm in the restaurant biz, and I have always heard large tea dispensers called the same.

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Susie Keegan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are not the only ones, that's what we would call it in Ireland too.

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Sue Bradley
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Called that in the UK too, bit of an old fashioned term though

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AnnaBanana
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We called the one at our office "Ernest", or "Ern" for short.

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Nicola Doyle
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again used in Canada too. A lot of these terms are used in other countries but maybe not the US. I guess that makes the Aussies closer cousins to us!

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A C
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, all food service places in the US calls them urns as well...... and I do to... can't just be an Australian thing.

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Connie Martin
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, we use urn in America for large pots that have a spigot on the side.

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Louloubelle
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uh, they actually use that term in the US. At least in the midwest.

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AliJanx
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Big things at a cafe or hotel lobby that have a little spigot with an on-off lever = urn. Very common.

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Annette Easton
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure where this person lives but we call them that here in Canada too

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GirlFriday
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um....we say that in America too. This person must be from outer space.

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Deborah Padgett
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in the U.S. and I have always heard of coffee urns. They were usually used for large gatherings as they were big.

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H.L.Lewis
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An urn is a large hor drink dispenser. Used in the US also.

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Nicholas Kraemer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not true. I've heard that my entire life in the American Midwest

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anarkzie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We call them that over in the UK too, although I can't remember the last time I saw one.

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Foxxy (The Original)
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have only ever seen coffee urns in community centres, churches or halls you can hire.

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Anita Rapp
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Americans use a large urn for coffee, or hot water at large functions.

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Yvvie R
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it only Americans commenting on this thread? It’s called an urn in the U.K. too. I think I know most of these words just from my obsession with Neighbours back in the day.

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Casmera Norwich
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We say urn in U.S. ... especially caterers..... One urn of coffee & one urn of hot water for tea....

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CincyReds
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Urns are a very common word when making coffee or tea....

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Lynn Morello
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Urn is a Big pot for hot drinks. Flask is a small personal one for individuals.

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Riley Quinn
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm an American, and I call those large, church-basement coffee pots, urns.

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Martha Higgins
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A large vessel for tea or coffee is, by definition, an urn, and has been for decades in the U.S..

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Meami
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The old-fashioned coffee makers (that you used to see at weddings) were called coffee urns here in the states too.

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Brent Hollett
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What did they think urns were, before they started dumping dead people in them?

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JustAnother Soul
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Today I learned that Americans are the only English speaking country that doesn’t use the term hot water urn or tea urn.

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Tina B
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is simply untrue. Urn is a common term for large hot beverage containers.

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Storm
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ive never heard some one calll a coffee despencer called an urn and I'm from brisbane

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Jaguarundi
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've always referred to a large/commercially-sized coffee or hot water dispenser an "urn" here in the US. I've never been given a funny look while saying it either.

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Marco Hub-Dub
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Coffee or tea “urn” is common in most English speaking places.

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Teresa Taylor
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The OP must be really young or have a thick accent that the person s/he spoke to didn't understand what s/he was saying. "Urn" is a common word in the US for a large pot with a spigot for coffee, tea or hot water.

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v
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Though not common I've heard it here in the U.S. throughout my life.

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Hilary Mol
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We still use "coffee urn" in the US, too, but only to refer to the actual, old-fashioned, metal behemoths still in use at churches, retirement homes... pretty much any place where there's someone old enough to have used it when it was new.

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Lord Mysticlaw
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I LOLd at this but we totally use urns in South Africa. Very common in offices where you want hot water for coffee for lots of people all the time without waiting for kettles.

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Jo Davies
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, we have urns in South Africa, had them in England and Wales, and been to quite a few countries where they have urns.

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Samantha Mix
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We use [coffee] "urn' all the time in America, esp in catering or hospitality.

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Christine Brand
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, Australians are the only ones except all the other non-American English speaking countries...

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Pungent Sauce
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American term are well, at least if you’re born 70’s-80’s.

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Libstak
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It can be annoying when auto correct kicks in. Had a friend at work fill out a health and safety incident regarding our hot water urn. "Burnt my hand when struck by the boiling hot water from the Urine. Poor thing hit save and send before checking and then had lots of explaining to do to the Gen Mgr and OH&S rep:)

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Robert Bailey
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I found out today that Paladin is the only person who doesn't know what a coffee urn is.

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Kim Lorton
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've always heard them called coffee urns also. In catering they are called coffee urns!

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Annemarie Mattheyse
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We talk about "urns" for storing and dispensing hot beverages in South Africa too.

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Clarf
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We use urn in the US. At least in most restaurants.

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GoddessOdd
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not true. I grew up right here in Florida, and it was my job as a kid to tell my mom when the coffee urns were running out at church pot luck suppers.

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Sam Yobado
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We use it in Canada too, at least in the few provinces I've worked in.

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BasedWang
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they aren't the only ones. I hear this s**t with older americans even

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Ronna Stefan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We use urn in Canada all the time - these "facts" are not facts.

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Joanna Spencer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually Australian's wouldn't drink coffee out of an urn - we have too much taste to drink coffee that is been sitting there for ever. You might use an urn for hot water which you can then use to make a coffee (instant) or a tea - but never have an urn of coffee - the thought gives me nightmares.

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GoddessOdd
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apparently you've not been around many coffee drinkers. The only difference between an urn and a coffee maker is that an urn makes 50 cups at one go... and in a group of coffee drinkers, that will be gone in half an hour. Instant??? Never.

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Foxxy (The Original)
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really? Just because a handful of people call it something doesn't mean it's an Aussie term. Another one I have never heard before.

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Julia Atkinson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The term derives from Sylvanus Bowser, American inventor of the first self-service fuel pump

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Raven Sheridan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We also play Goon Roulette! It's like Spin the Bottle, except you hang a goon bag from the clothesline, get a bunch of friends to stand around it in a circle and then spin the clothesline. If the goon bag stops near you, you drink! Then spin again!!

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