What is the meaning of budgie-smugglers in Australia?

The meaning of budgie-smugglers in Australia is rather crude. It refers to the appearance of tight, short, male swimming trunks such as Speedos.

If an Australian refers to budgie-smugglers, they almost certainly don’t mean people trying to illicitly transport budgerigars over borders.

You’ll not find a definition of budgie-smugglers in a standard dictionary however. It’s an Australian colloquialism, and one with a rather crude meaning. The meaning of budgie-smugglers in Australia is tight, short male swimming trunks. The brand most commonly associated with this particular piece of Australian slang is Speedo. But budgie-smugglers don’t strictly have to be Speedos.

Why are speedos called budgie-smugglers?

So why are Speedos called budgie-smugglers? Well, take a look at someone wearing them, and you’ll work it out pretty quickly.

Australia Travel Questions will spare you a photo of such a scene. No-one really wants to see that. But suffice to say that the meaning of budgie-smugglers in Australia comes from the observation that a man wearing Speedos looks like he might be smuggling budgies inside them.

Budgie-smugglers in Australian swimming pools

Are men wearing Speedos so common in Australia that this is a common sight? Well, yes, unfortunately they are. Go to a public swimming pool, like the Scarborough Beach Pool in Perth or the Victoria Park Pool in Camperdown, Sydney, and you’ll probably see plenty.

You’ll also see plenty of manly bulges at popular beach destinations, including Maroubra Beach in Sydney, Sandringham Beach in Melbourne and Coolangatta on the Gold Coast.

So, if you would prefer to avoid the ghastly sight of smuggled budgies, aim for some quieter spots. Luckily, Australia Travel Questions is at hand to point you towards lesser-known but brilliant coastal hangouts. Try Bawley Point or Seal Rocks in New South Wales. Or maybe Mallacoota in Victoria? Marcoola on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast perhaps?

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