Dec 5, 2009
A question for Australians about a nifty word in their dialect.
Apparently, in Australia tragic can be a noun meaning someone really interested in a topic. (“I’m a blogging tragic.”)
Australians – this true?
Subscribe to 22 Words
Recent Comments
Sponsors
Categories
- Arts in General (24)
- Bible (67)
- Blogging (158)
- Brevity (25)
- Constructive Criticism (271)
- Faith (217)
- Food & Drink (63)
- Language (226)
- Literature (112)
- Love (93)
- Miscellanea (308)
- Movies & TV (27)
- Music (171)
- parenting (158)
- Personal (191)
- Questions (258)
- Quotes (41)
- Recommendations (132)
- Sports (14)
- Technology (2)
- Uncategorized (9)
- Visual Art (36)
- Writing (57)
Archives
- September 2010 (9)
- August 2010 (88)
- July 2010 (116)
- June 2010 (79)
- May 2010 (89)
- April 2010 (62)
- March 2010 (21)
- February 2010 (25)
- January 2010 (32)
- December 2009 (47)
- November 2009 (63)
- October 2009 (45)
- September 2009 (40)
- August 2009 (40)
- July 2009 (40)
- June 2009 (37)
- May 2009 (47)
- April 2009 (51)
- March 2009 (40)
- February 2009 (31)
- January 2009 (44)
- December 2008 (47)
- November 2008 (54)
- October 2008 (50)
- September 2008 (41)
- August 2008 (45)
- July 2008 (51)
- June 2008 (51)
- May 2008 (66)
- April 2008 (74)
- March 2008 (71)
- February 2008 (19)
Reader Recommendations
Some of the books and music that you, the readers, have recommended here over time:
Twitter Recommendations
Theme based on Derek Punsalan's Grid Focus.
Yes.
It would tend to carry the idea of someone not just very interested, but obsessed beyond the social norm.
I would say it also tends to be used in regards to someone obsessed with relatively frivolous matters (sport, television ect) rather than more serious obsessions (eg math)
that makes sense
It sounds like something from the valley girl dialect.
Defs! ;)
All true, but you won’t hear anyone under 35 using that lingo…
I was going to say the same thing. I grew up in Australia, and hadn’t heard this one before, but it’s pretty consistent with the way certain Aussie demographic groups play around with nouns and gerunds. In that way, they’re very similar to England in having slang and accents specific to small regions…
I’ve never heard of it, myself. Perhaps it’s not in the Queensland dialect?
I’ve heard it used in Queensland.
I’d say it’s a combination of our ironic sense of humour with a sense of self deprecating self awareness. It’s usually associated with sport – and it seems to be an acknowledgment of disproportionate interest in a topic.
The interesting thing about this is that it is not a noun everywhere else.
Yes. We do use it that way, but it tends to be used a little tongue in cheek. As in “Running off to watch the game again? You’re a tragic.”
yeah mate, ya spot on with ya ‘nalysis.
no worries, she’ll be right cobber!
This person would also know as “a lost cause”.
Yep, you can be a golf tragic, a footy (football) tragic, a reality tv tragic, anything where your interest borders on obsessive. But I agree that I don’t think many people under 35 would be using it.