What it means
Means McDonald’s. Aussies love a nickname, so the Golden Arches becomes Maccas or Macca’s, said like it’s your mate from footy. It’s common enough that the company has leaned into it in Aussie ads and even stuck it on signage for promos. You’ll hear it when someone’s craving a late-night feed after a big night out, or a quick drive-thru coffee on the way home.
Usage examples
"I’m absolutely cooked after that gig, hey. Swing past Maccas drive-thru on the way home, grab us a large Coke, nuggets and a hash brown."
"Footy's done, who's keen for Maccas? I could smash a quarter pounder and a thickshake right now."
"We only stopped at Maccas for the toilets and walked out with two large fries, classic."
"We missed the last train and ended up parked at Maccas till 2 a.m. smashing fries and chatting absolute rubbish."
"Chuck a left at the lights and pull into Maccas, I need a frozen Coke before I melt into the seat."
Where it comes from
It’s a real Australian clipping of McDonald’s, built on the Aussie habit of shortening words and giving them a matey ending. The form’s been around long enough that McDonald’s Australia has used Maccas in ads and even on temporary signage, which tells you it stopped being slangy fringe ages ago.
Editors of this term
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