fair dinkum

USAGE SUMMARY

'Fair dinkum' is an informal expression from Australian English, so it is not considered correct in written English.
It is used to express agreement, surprise, or as emphasis. For example: "That was such a hard exam! Fair dinkum!".

News & Media

Sport

Film

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fair dinkum.

Independent

Fair dinkum sprint.

The Guardian - Sport

Rupert: Fair dinkum, Sam.

The Guardian

It's all fair dinkum, mate.

Independent

This is not being fair dinkum.

The Guardian

Who said it: Scott Morrison or another fair dinkum Aussie?

The Guardian

Tony Abbott is not fair dinkum on climate change.

The Guardian

Fair dinkum, this sport does your head in sometimes.

The Guardian - Sport

And what's more fair dinkum than practically inhaling beers?

The Guardian - Film

Fair dinkum: it was Mitt Romney's day, and he deserves some credit.

The New Yorker

If Rudd is "fair dinkum", he will make the same call, Abbott says.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fair dinkum" when aiming for an authentic Australian voice or to connect with an audience familiar with Australian English.

Common error

Avoid using "fair dinkum" in formal or international contexts where the meaning might be unclear or misconstrued by those unfamiliar with Australian slang.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fair dinkum" functions as an adjective or adverb, modifying nouns to indicate authenticity or qualifying verbs to express sincerity. Ludwig's examples show its versatility in expressing genuine sentiment or questioning veracity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Sport

17%

Film

10%

Less common in

Travel

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fair dinkum" is an Australian English expression signifying genuineness, honesty, or truthfulness. While grammatically acceptable within its native context, its usage should be carefully considered in formal or international settings. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is mostly used in news and media, showing how popular it is. When in doubt, synonyms like "genuinely" or "honestly" may be more appropriate. The choice depends on the desired tone and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for real

An informal expression that, like "fair dinkum", questions or confirms the truth of something.

straight up

An informal expression conveying honesty and directness, similar to "fair dinkum" in colloquial contexts.

honestly

A direct synonym focusing on the aspect of truthfulness and integrity.

truly

Emphasizes the veracity of a statement, similar to "fair dinkum" used as an adverb.

to be honest

Introduces a candid or truthful statement.

genuinely

Expresses the same sentiment of truthfulness, but in a more formal manner.

without a doubt

Indicates certainty and genuineness, similar to the emphatic use of "fair dinkum".

in truth

A more formal way of introducing a truthful statement.

in reality

Highlights the factual nature of a situation.

veritably

A formal and somewhat archaic way to emphasize truthfulness.

FAQs

How do you use "fair dinkum" in a sentence?

"Fair dinkum" can be used as an adjective to mean genuine or honest, as in "Is that a "fair dinkum" offer?". It can also be used as an adverb meaning truly or honestly, like saying "Are you "for real", mate?".

What does "fair dinkum" mean?

"Fair dinkum" is an Australian slang term that means genuine, honest, or true. It can also be used to express surprise or disbelief, similar to saying "really?" or "seriously?".

Is "fair dinkum" appropriate in formal writing?

No, "fair dinkum" is an informal expression and is not appropriate for formal writing. It's best suited for casual conversations or when trying to evoke an Australian cultural context.

What are some synonyms for "fair dinkum"?

Depending on the context, synonyms for "fair dinkum" include "genuine", "honest", "true", "for real", and "straight up".