Chilly bin
Insulated cooler for keeping drinks and kai cold. The centrepiece of every NZ summer.
"Chuck the sausages in the chilly bin."
The dictionary · best-rated first · page 4 of 22
Chip and chase
A rugby move - kick over the defence and run onto it. Also a life metaphor for a punt.
"Cheeky chip and chase for the try."
Chippie sammie
A sandwich with potato chips inside - buttered bread, crisps, done. Peak Kiwi childhood.
"Made myself a chippie sammie, no regrets."
Chippies
Potato chips/crisps - or a tradesperson (chippie = carpenter). Context decides.
"Grab a packet of chippies."
Cho0r
A drawn-out, extra-warm 'chur', spelling optional. The more O's, the more gratitude.
"Massive help, chooor bro."
Choccie
Chocolate. 'Need some choccie.'
"Emergency choccie in the drawer."
Chocka
Completely full — a room, a car park, or your stomach. Full version: chocka block.
"The mall was chocka today."
Chocka block
Completely full, jammed. Longer form of 'chocka'.
"Motorway's chocka block."
Chocka the freezer
Fill the freezer up completely - a very NZ act of provision (whitebait, venison, whatever).
"Got a deer - chocka the freezer for winter."
Chocka with it
Fed up, had enough. 'I'm chocka with it.'
"Chocka with the roadworks, honestly."
Chocolate fish
A fish-shaped marshmallow lolly in chocolate - and a reward ('give that man a chocolate fish').
"Nailed it - give yourself a chocolate fish."
Choice
Good, cool, excellent. A one-word blessing on any plan or object.
"Movie starts at 8." "Choice."
Choice as bro
The maximum approval stack - choice + as + bro. Nothing gets more enthusiastic than this.
"You're all sorted mate." "Choice as bro!"
Choice bro
Double-barrelled approval - 'choice' plus 'bro' for extra warmth. The full handshake of agreement.
"Picked you up a pie." "Choice bro!"
Choice bro sorted
The full Kiwi resolution - approval, brotherhood and 'done' in three words.
"Fixed it up." "Choice bro, sorted."
Choice mint
Doubled-up approval - two NZ praise words for the price of one.
"New whip's choice mint, bro."
Choof off
To leave, head away. 'Right, I'm going to choof off.'
"Better choof off before the traffic."
Chook
A chicken — the live, clucking kind or occasionally the roast.
"The chooks got out of the run again."
Chunder
To vomit, usually from drink or seasickness. Vivid and onomatopoeic.
"He chundered over the side of the boat."
Chur
Cheers, thanks, cool, no problem, or just hello. Doubles up as 'chur chur' for extra warmth.
"Shouted you a coffee." "Chur bro!"