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as game as Ned Kelly

(Australia) Brave, daring, full of pluck, willing.

Documented since 1850sSilenthistorical138 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇦🇺 Australian & NZ slang
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Born ~1854 · no dated citations yet
1854BornToday, 2026

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Australia
#1·Apr 27, 2026AUS

(Australia) Brave, daring, full of pluck, willing.

Origin: Referring to Ned Kelly (1854-1880), Australian bushranger famed for his bravery against overwhelming odds. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

as game as Ned Kelly means: Brave, daring, full of pluck, willing.. It is mainly Australian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

as game as Ned Kelly means: Brave, daring, full of pluck, willing.. Register: informal, Australian English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

Cluster: partying
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For specific readers

as game as Ned Kelly means: Brave, daring, full of pluck, willing.. It is mainly Australian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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Australia

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🇦🇺About Australian & NZ slang slang

Aussie and Kiwi vocabulary — bogan, daggy, brekkie, sheila, bach, jandals — the whole Antipodean lexicon, including outback dialect, surf and beach culture, and Sydney/Melbourne street slang.

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