barbie
/ˈbɑːbi/
Very CommonA barbecue. Either the grill itself or the social event around it.
The famous 'shrimp on the barbie' phrase is technically inaccurate since Australians say prawns, not shrimp. The phrase came from a 1980s tourism campaign. Australians find the shrimp version a bit of a joke.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | firing up the barbie, come over | Starting the barbecue and extending an open invitation. | instagram, 2024 |
| 02 | nothing beats a Sunday barbie with the family | A family barbecue on Sunday is a favourite tradition. | instagram, 2023 |
| 03 | chucked some snags on the barbie and called it a day | Put some sausages on the grill and that was the whole plan. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | barbie in the rain, true Australian tradition | Grilling outdoors even when it is raining, presented as a cultural point of pride. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- Inviting or referring to a backyard or outdoor cooking event.
- Talking about grilling food.
- Referring to the grill itself.
Do not use it when
- Formal writing or professional contexts.Use “barbecue” instead.
Origin and context
Shortened form of barbecue using the common Australian -ie suffix. Became internationally recognised through a 1980s Australian tourism campaign featuring Paul Hogan.
- First seen
- mid-1900s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/australian-slang-barbieUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0