What it means
Togs means your swimsuit or swim gear, especially in New Zealand and also Australia. It’s the dead-normal word you hear for the stuff you chuck on before a swim at the beach, the pools, the river, anywhere you’re getting in the water. Outside those places, some people hear togs and think general clothes, so it can throw them a bit.
Usage examples
"Oi, grab your towel and chuck your togs in the boot, cuz. We’re off to Piha for a swim, then fish and chips after."
"Chuck your togs in the bag, we're heading to the hot pools after lunch."
"Forgot my togs, so I just paddled at the edge while everyone else had a proper swim."
"You packed snacks but forgot your togs? Brutal. Guess you're on towel duty while the rest of us jump in."
"It's roasting out, chuck your togs on and let's hit the beach before the wind turns feral."
Where it comes from
Togs is an old English word for clothes or garments, recorded from the 18th century and linked to thieves' cant. In Australia and New Zealand, the meaning narrowed over time until it mostly meant swimwear. That beachy, everyday sense is now the one people know best there.
This expression also appears in
