I should really look into that Baker book. We had the 59 edition when I was at school and it seemed dated even then, so I hope that thye have updated it for the 83 version. Of course, even that would be dated now. Such is langugage, or at least living language.

'Gully trap' was one that Barry Humphries mentioned that wasn't included in Baker's work, but Baker's original work was done in Sydney so our cabbage patcher and crow eater expressions didn't feature in it. I do hate the way that TV has made some of the regional expressions disappear, but at least we're now getting our own regional accents.

I wonder if Tony Abbot alienates people other than me by using expressions that are current in and local to Sydney only? It drives me nuts!