Browned off - a new phrase for you perhaps?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (352987)
Rockingham, Australia
January 14, 2022 4:06am CST
The photo has nothing to do with the post. Just a very wet kangaroo, probably browned off by the weather.
There are not many Australians on myLot but I am one of several. I occasionally use phrases that people are not familiar with. Sometimes I know the word/phrase will be unfamiliar but I use it anyway thinking why should I change my natural way of writing. From time to time, I am surprised that what is a very common word to me will be unknown to others. ‘Chook’ is one, meaning a chicken or hen. Chook is very common in Australia but seems mostly unknown elsewhere.
My latest offering was ‘browned off’. I did wonder if it would be unfamiliar and it seems it was. It means ‘fed up’ but I couldn’t find an explanation as to how it came into being. There is a belief that maybe it stems from fruit which, when left out and browned by the sun, is no longer so appealing,
The term seems to date from around World War II and is most widely associated with the British forces. So, is it a new phrase to you?
29 people like this
27 responses
@Fleura (31667)
• United Kingdom
14 Jan 22
Chooks is definitely in common use here in the UK too.
As for 'browned off' - it's a phrase that used to be in common use but isn't any more. It's a saying I remember from reading old story books when I was a child!
Funny how language changes continually.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (352987)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jan 22
That's nice you know about 'chooks'. And as for 'browned off' @PhredWreck @Fleura, just because a few didn't know it, I'm assuming it's not well known. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree. 
Oops, sorry. Couldn't help myself. 
Oops, sorry. Couldn't help myself. 2 people like this
@soymex (1097)
• Glasgow, Scotland
14 Jan 22
For me, there are many words that do not have an english translation, "sarmale" (minced meat wrapped in farce sheets and cooked with various spices), cartabosi (a kind of sausage, homemade) and many others that do not come to me now in mind!
2 people like this
@flapiz (23272)
• United Kingdom
14 Jan 22
I've lived in Australia for 3 good years and this is the first time I've heard of browned off. Although I know what chook is. I love Aussie lingo and how McDonalds is Maccas and BBQ is barbie. And how afternoon is arvo. Sometimes I still use these terms and people would look at me weirdly. 
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54400)
• United States
14 Jan 22
i cannot say I've ever heard that - fun I think i am going to adopt it!
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54400)
• United States
15 Jan 22
@JudyEv i suspect I've heard it, just didn't register with a meaning!
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (49578)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
14 Jan 22
Not new to me. In fact, it's old. I haven't heard anyone use it in ages.
I came across "chook" in one of the Royal Spyness books.
Continue to use your idioms, that's what makes the 'Lot so interesting. I recently confused someone with "dropping like flies". 
2 people like this
@allknowing (145386)
• India
15 Jan 22
I would rather go for something that everyone understands. There are so many phrases that are understood by most. and 'browned off' has as many as 86 synonyms
1 person likes this
@allknowing (145386)
• India
15 Jan 22
@JudyEv I can understand pronunciations being different but why should one use phrases that are not common when one can use those that are common. Talking about pronunciation when my niece arrived from Australia I just could not understand what her kids were saying as they were speaking the way an Australian would (lol)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (352987)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Jan 22
In some ways I agree, but I don't want to feel I have to become pseudo-American or pseudo-Indian or pseudo-anything else just so people here can understand me. And half the time I'm surprised by their not knowing something that, to me, is commonplace. Nowadays, I try to write anything I think might be a problem first in my lingo (language) then in brackets after.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (352987)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Jan 22
@allknowing My problem has been, in some instances, that if a phrase is common to me, I have no idea that it isn't common to others. I had no idea that 'fortnight' wasn't a common term but some had never heard of it. I can understand the pronunciation being difficult but there is no right or wrong as regards that.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16913)
• China
14 Jan 22
It is a new phrase to me.I have learnt lots of phrases from your posts.Some are your local ones,for example the "crash-hot".
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16913)
• China
15 Jan 22
@JudyEv So.right! However I am very interested in them.just as I do in Chinese idioms.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (113918)
• El Paso, Texas
14 Jan 22
You're right, I've never heard that one before. I find it interesting to read about the different phrases used by different countries that also speak 'English' ..... I wish I were still interested in traveling but that's a ship that sailed a long time ago.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (352987)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jan 22
I've learnt some new terms here too although Fiacre's long words I struggle to remember.
@RubyHawk (99397)
• Atlanta, Georgia
14 Jan 22
Both phrases are new to me. I use some words and phrases that others don’t understand. I grew up in the lower Appalachians. Long ago people there were isolated and spoke differently than everyday language. Of course times have changed but some words and phrases linger.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (188285)
• United States
14 Jan 22
Yes it's new to me. Thanks for the explanation. Chook is new as well.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (189189)
• United States
15 Jan 22
It is.. Do you know the term brownie points! Hint it is unrelated to browned off.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (84610)
• United States
15 Jan 22
That is definitely a new phrase for me so now when you use it I'll know what you mean. I also find that I write as I would speak so often times someone will say they don't understand a word or phrase I used. We learn something new here all the time don't we
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (352987)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Jan 22
We do indeed and I think that is a very good thing. I don't really want to have to change the way I write.
@moffittjc (124240)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Jan 22
Totally new phrase for me. But I love learning about different words or phrases from other countries, so keep them coming! I always find them totally interesting!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124240)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Jan 22
@JudyEv It does help a lot.
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