I have just been watching the first election debate between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott ahead of the Australian Federal Election. I think Julia definitely had the edge and was more polished. However, Abbott used the phrase "fair dinkum" at least eight times. Australians often like to remind me that they no longer use the term even though I have heard it used more regularly than many people would like to admit.
So what does the term fair dinkum mean? Well it generally mean real, honest or genuine. Coming from a politician perhaps there is some irony. So where does the term originate? There are a few possible explanations. Joseph Wright recorded the phrase in his English dictionary of 1896-1905. He found several examples of dinkum in various parts of England and even found fair dinkum being used in Lincolnshire.
Another explanation is that it was a response of Chinese goldminers to the question "Are you finding a fair amount of gold?" as "din-gum means "good gold". Over time it became fair dinkum. Not sure about that one myself though.
An even less likely explanation is that it comes from the phrase "good drinking" when early settlers would raise a toast. What do you think?
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