What it means
A proper Aussie way to say something's excellent, spot on, or that someone absolutely nailed it. You can slap it on a goal, a bargain, a beach day, or a lucky break and it lands sunny and approving. In you little ripper, it turns into a warm cheer for a job beautifully done. It's upbeat, harmless, and miles away from the horror meaning.
Usage examples
"Pulled a monster barra off the jetty, old mate nearly dropped his esky and yelled, You little ripper! Now whack it on the barbie, champ."
"My dad in the back garden of the bungalow in the western suburbs of Brisbane on Saturday afternoon of the long weekend of the Anzac Day commemoration finally fixed the rusty Hills hoist clothesline of the second decade in service of the family laundry of the back yard, my mum from the kitchen window of the second floor of the wash room yelled out you ripper darling at the top of her lungs, and the next-door neighbour over the fence of the back gate joined in the cheer of the third household of the street."
"That was a ripper of a goal, curled it right into the top corner from outside the box."
"We had a ripper of a weekend at the coast, sunshine, good waves and not a cloud in sight."
"Found twenty bucks in me old boardies and Dad goes, You little ripper, that's your servo pie sorted."
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Where it comes from
This praise sense of ripper is old, going back to late 19th century English where it meant something first-rate or splendid. Australia kept it thriving far more than most places did, and made it a real everyday favourite in forms like a ripper and the happy little burst you little ripper.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
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