bluey 
noun (Australian English)

- an ironic nickname for a person with red hair

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WORD ORIGIN

In Australia, “Bluey” is a standard nickname for red-haired men in particular. It dates back to the 19th century, when Australian bush culture, drovers, and outback workers popularised playful nicknames.

This play on opposites is similar to calling a very tall person “Shorty,” or a big guy “Tiny.”

“Bluey” appears frequently in Australian literature, folk songs, and military slang. It’s still common today in rural and working-class communities, though it can be affectionate or teasing depending on tone. It’s an example of dry Aussie humour, highlighting the culture’s fondness for understatement and irony.

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THE POWER OF OPPOSITES


Ironic nicknames serve as gentle teasing among friends and colleagues, turning a person's most obvious characteristic into its humorous opposite. The tradition reflects English-speaking cultures' tendency toward self-deprecating humour and playful contradiction. Besides the Australian “bluey” for redheads, other common examples are

- “Einstein” = for someone who’s not very bright

- “Genius” =  for someone who makes silly mistakes

- “Graceful” = for clumsy people who frequently trip, drop things, or bump into objects

- “Hercules” = for someone physically weak

- "Shorty" = for someone very tall

- “Speedy” = for someone who’s slow

- "Sherlock" - used for people who miss obvious clues or are completely oblivious to their surroundings

- “Sunshine" = given to perpetually grumpy, pessimistic, or moody people

- “Tiger” = for someone shy or timid

- "Tiny" = for someone very big

- "Twinkletoes" - given to heavy-footed people who stomp around or are bad dancers

These nicknames gently poke fun at the person, while also showing a bit of affection. They’re common in tight-knit groups like work crews, sports teams, or families — places where good-natured teasing is a way to bond.

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

auburn (beauty), bloodnut, BLUEY, brick/carrot top, bronze, cherry crown, chestnut, cinnamon, copper (curls, head, penny, top), copperhead, flame hair (top), flamehead, flaming locks, freckles, ginge, ginger (head, mop, nut), gold-red, lava locks, ranga, red mane, redhead, redheader, ruby, russet, rusty (top), scarlet strands, strawberry top, titian, titian-haired

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation today, say something like:

“What do you think about ‘BLUEY’ as an interesting name for a ginger-coloured dog or cat?”