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Smuggling budgies - Wordplay
Posted by Denise on October 6, 2008 under Humour, Lust Objects, Wordplay
Ah, you gotta love the Aussie vernacular! Across the country, there are many different words for the humble swimsuit - togs, bathers, swimmers, boardies. Depends where you come from.
But the best by a country mile is used for those abbreviated swim trunks most people call speedos.
Here, they’re known as “budgie smugglers“.
And if you take a real good look to the right, you’ll see why.
I think it’s clever, and funny and dry - real Oz humour. Also, um, very visual. *chuckle*
At the moment, there’s a debate raging in lifesaving circles. (You guys Over There call them lifeguards.) Budgie smugglers or board shorts? Apparently, young men aren’t signing on because having to appear in public wearing their speedos makes them feel uncomfortable. Old hands say it’s more important to be fast and safe in the water during a rescue. The local press have the story here. It’s accompanied by a complete gallery of budgie smugglers, so you can see for yourself.
I’m ambivalent. After all, a man needs incredible self-confidence and a body like a god to be able carry off a pair of budgie smugglers - and let’s face it, there aren’t too many of them!
The billboard says it all really. What do you think? Do speedos on the beach put you off your lunch? I don’t see how the principle is all that different from a bikini, to be honest. It’s all about the body - and the budgies.
What do you call a swimsuit where you’re from? A swimsuit? Or something else entirely?
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I haven’t been to the beach in years - but I do have very fond memories of the male swimming instructors at the summer camp I attended during my early teenage years. Those guys wore the most incredibly tight and tiny Speedos, and it was quite an education in anatomy when I’d come up for air after doing laps to see Mr. Potato in His Pants (yes, that’s what we called him) standing right at the end of the pool, his glorious basket blocking out the sun.
I agree that it’s all about the body. I’ve seen too many people that wear bikinis that really shouldn’t (at least out in public), but if you have really great self esteem then go for it. If people don’t like it they don’t have to look is what I always said about it. I never thought I had a body for a bikini, so I never wore one in public except for when I was like 5 yrs old. I stuck to my good ol’ one piece.
We call swimsuits bathing suits or swimsuits (at least in my family we do) here.
This can be such an educational blog!
“Trunks” which guys wear to swim around here certainly do NOT look like that and 99.9% of the guys should/would never be caught dead in budgie smugglers despite what they might prefer to see on a young lady with the figure for it.
We called them swim trunks as well. My vote is for board shorts. I hate speedos. I never know where to look if the guy is built and endowed. I also don’t know where to look if the guy isn’t built and he should not be wearing them. It’s like a train wreck, you know you should look away but you just can’t.
This post bought to mind an article from the 1980’s that was in one of the women’s mags at the time. Lady Di was on tour and down on the beach in Sydney with eight young speedo wearing lifesavers (one of whom was my step-cousin). She didn’t know where to look. It was pretty obvious the men were “starstruck”. I’ve never forgotten it.
I’m a board short type of girl - you’ve got to leave something to the imagination, and if the abs are great the imagination always goes south don’t you think!!
And I bet he knew you were looking. Lita.
Mr Potato in his pants? Gives a whole new meaning to the word “lumpy”. heh heh
Dani, I never cease to be amazed at what people will wear. There are times I truly wonder if they have the use of a mirror. But then, we all know I’m the Picky Bitch.
OTOH, no one says you have to look, do they?
Oh yeah, Jenny, I aim to educate and entertain. Selfless, that’s me.
And oh yes, budgie smugglers require the perfect masculine body. Trouble is, most guys built like that are busy looking to see who’s looking. *sigh*
Know what you mean, Clynax - you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. I’ve always been hopeless with good looking men, I never know whether to look or nor and how not to be obvious about it when I do. Just a dribbling idiot. Mind you, being the Picky Bitch, I have such impossible standards it doesn’t happen very often.
Erm, I can imagine you never forgot that article, Fi. Did they put the photo of those guys in the Women’s Weekly?
Oooh, I hope so! The mind absolutely boggles. I’ll bet Lady Di’s did!
And yes, it’s true boardies leave something to the imagination. Unfortunately - well, from my point of view - thighs are among the somethings. I’m mighty partial to a nice thigh.
Yes it’s so Australian, the budgie smugglers….. Now days at the beach there are alot more board shorts but a few of the older men still go for the budgies…. a generational thing. I like the train-wreck comment - describes it perfectly.
and yes Denise is definitely one for educating us all….. 
Love the budgie smugglers on the right bods.
I can understand the politics behind why, saftey etc.
Not over fussed on boardies - hate them on women.
It’s like anything, some sights just should not be see at the beach
You have to wonder about some guys, Eleni. Or presumably, they care more about comfort than appearance?
As for me, I think I have that kind of mind that enjoys quirky things, you know? Plus, I *ahem* really enjoy good-looking men. What can I say?
Mary, my only wish is that some folk take a look in the mirror before they step out the door!
Ahmen Denise.
Have you seen this ad about togs, Denise? Your post reminded me of it?
http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Lx2ihpGbc
Oh Shelley, that ad is BRILLIANT! I wish I’d put it in the post. But never mind.
Everyone, go watch this ad. http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Lx2ihpGbc
[…] and speaking about Aussies… Denise Rossetti has a post about Budgie Smugglers. Don’t know what they are? Check her post and don’t […]
I came to visit from Shelley Munro’s blog. Love the post!
Sad.
I am from the US, North Western Washington. Up here, the water is around 55 F or about 13 C in the summer months. So, anyone willing to brave the water for very long has to wear a dry suit or a wet suit.
Oooh you know this is a hard one. I for one love boardies BUT as previously mentioned, Budgie Smugglers (or Dick Stickers as I fondly recall them being called in my youth)on the right bod can be quite drool worthy.
Unfortunately it is a generation thing - the sad part being that it’s the older guys (and less ripped) guys who tend to wear them. Not the young sexy guys with the hot bods.
In all honesty I don’t mind what he’s wearing, coz if he’s built like a god you can guarantee I’ll be watching LOL! Much to my husbands dismay ;)(who does by the way wear dick stickers :()
Welcome to sunny Oz, Colleen.
I’m sure there are compensations in NW Washington - especially for a woman with a discerning eye!
Still, I think you should visit us Down Under. Alternatively, have a look at the link to the gallery of budgie smugglers. Or check out Shelley’s YouTube sensation. heh heh
It’s all about the body, isn’t it, Lyn? But I still have a problem with where to put my eyes. If he’s trainwreck, I can’t seem to look away. If he’s a god, I’m too shy to stare. Very irritating!
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