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A tire cover on the back of an SUV displays the slogan.
An Australian car displays "No worries"

No worries is an expression in English meaning "do not worry about that", "that's all right", "forget about it" or "sure thing". It is similar to the American English "no problem". It is widely used in Australian and New Zealand speech and represents a feeling of friendliness, good humour, optimism and "mateship" in Australian culture, and has been called the national motto of Australia.

The phrase has influenced a similar phrase used in the Tok Pisin language in Papua New Guinea. Its usage became more common in British English after increased usage in Australian soap operas that aired on television in the United Kingdom.

Linguistic experts are uncertain how no worries became utilized in American English; theories include use by Steve Irwin on the television program The Crocodile Hunter and usage by the United States media during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It has also gained common usage in Canadian English.[1][2]

Definition

[edit]

No worries is an Australian English and New Zealand English expression, meaning "do not worry about that",[3] or "that's all right".[4] It can also mean "sure thing"[5] and "you're welcome".[6] Other colloquial Australian terms which mean the same thing include "she'll be right".[7] The expression has been compared to the American English equivalent "no problem".[8] In their book Australian Language & Culture: No Worries!, authors Vanessa Battersby, Paul Smitz and Barry Blake note: "No worries is a popular Australian response akin to 'no problems', 'that's OK' or 'sure thing'."[9]

Cultural origins

[edit]

Early documentation dates the phrase back to 1966 in Australian English.[10] According to author of When Cultures Collide: Leading Across Cultures, Richard D. Lewis, the phrase is a form of expression of the relaxed attitude in Australian culture.[11] Anna Wierzbicka comments that the expression illustrates important parts of Australian culture, including: "amiability, friendliness, an expectation of shared attitudes (a proneness to easy 'mateship'), jocular toughness, good humour, and, above all, casual optimism".[12] She concludes that along with "good on you", the expressions reflect the "national character" and "prevailing ethos" of Australia.[13]

The phrase itself appeared in American English with different connotations, for example in an episode of The Fugitive released December 14, 1965.[citation needed]

Usage

[edit]

Wierzbicka writes in her book Cross-cultural Pragmatics that the expression "permeates Australian speech", "serves a wide range of illocutionary forces" and displays a "casual optimism".[14] In her 1992 book Semantics, Culture, and Cognition, Wierzbicka classifies the phrase as "among the most characteristic Australian expressions", along with "good on you".[12]

The term can also be used in the context of an apology.[15] The phrase has been used widely in British English since the late 1980s, a development partly attributed to the success of Australian soap operas such as Neighbours in the United Kingdom.[16]

The phrase "no wucking forries" has the same meaning in Australia; as a spoonerism of "no fucking worries",[3][17] and is contracted to the phrases "no wuckers" and "no wucks".[3]

Influence

[edit]

No worries was referred to as "the national motto" of Australia in 1978,[12] and in their 2006 work, Diving the World, Beth and Shaun Tierney call "no worries, mate" the national motto of the country.[6] Writing in The New York Times Book Review, Annette Kobak calls the expression a "ritual incantation" which has "particular charm".[18] The phrase "no waris" in the Papua New Guinea language Tok Pisin is derived from the Australian English term.[19][20]

According to The Sunday Mail a 2004 newspaper report notes that no worries has begun to be used in American English.[21] Writing in a 2004 article for The Advertiser, Samela Harris comments: "The Americans have no idea of the etymology of 'no worries'. So, while they may cheerily adopt our 'no worries' mantra, 'no worries' will never catch on as an attitude."[22] According to Tom Dalzell, author of two books on slang usage in the United States, linguistics experts are not certain how the expression became popular in that country. One possibility not mentioned in the source is the prominent position of this phrase in the lyrics of song "Hakuna Matata" in the popular 1994 Disney film The Lion King.[23] Usage of the term by Steve Irwin on The Crocodile Hunter, as well as attempts by members of the American press to imitate the expression during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, have been put forth as theories explaining the pervasiveness of the expression in the United States.[23] Linguistics professor Kate Burridge writes in her 2004 book Weeds in the Garden of Words that expressions including "no worries", "absolutely", and "bottom line" have become less prevalent in favor of newer sayings.[24]

See also

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Notes

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References

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Further reading

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No worries

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"No worries" is an idiomatic expression originating in Australian English, typically used as a casual response to expressions of gratitude, apologies, or concern, conveying that no issue or obligation exists. The phrase first appeared in print in 1965 in Sydney's Oz magazine, where it was recorded in the context of relaxed social interactions, such as after sharing drinks: "No worry … it’s amazing what a few schooners of jolly does for a bloke." According to the Oxford English Dictionary, this marks its earliest documented use, reflecting Australia's laid-back cultural ethos. The expression embodies a attitude toward minor inconveniences or favors, often serving as an equivalent to "," "," or "don't mention it" in informal settings. In Australian usage, it responds to thanks (e.g., after a service), apologies (e.g., for a delay), or inquiries about , emphasizing reassurance without formality. Its popularity surged in the and through global media exports, including the film (1986), which introduced Australian slang to international audiences, and the 1994 Disney animated film , where the phrase "" (meaning "no worries") paralleled its sentiment. The 2000 Sydney Olympics further amplified its visibility during worldwide broadcasts. Beyond Australia, "no worries" has spread to New Zealand, Singapore, and Malaysia, where it integrates into local variants of English, and gained traction in the United States, with usage rising sharply after 2000 to about 1.5 occurrences per million words in contemporary American English corpora. In the UK, it became common in the 1990s influenced by Australian soap operas like Neighbours. However, by 2022, some American linguists and style guides critiqued its overuse, leading to its inclusion on Lake Superior State University's annual list of banished words for sounding overly casual or intrusive in professional contexts. Despite this, the phrase remains a hallmark of informal, optimistic communication worldwide, symbolizing resilience and ease.

Etymology and Definition

Historical Origins

The phrase "no worries" as an interjection first appeared in documented Australian English in the October 1965 edition of Oz magazine, published in Sydney, where it featured in a casual context: "No worry..it's amazing what a few schooners of jolly does for a bloke." Oz, an underground satirical publication central to the Australian counterculture of the 1960s, often showcased rebellious and informal language that challenged mainstream norms, thereby contributing to the phrase's early visibility in print media. This emergence aligned with broader social shifts in the decade, including the growing multiculturalism and social liberalization of the 1960s. By 1967, the phrase gained further attestation in literary works, such as Jack Hibberd's play White with Wire Wheels, where a character responds, "‘Well. How was she?’..‘Who, Sue? No worries.’" Early examples in print media, including countercultural magazines and informal dialogues captured in newspapers, illustrated its use as a reassurance in everyday interactions, often among youth and urban dwellers rejecting formalities. For instance, Oz and similar outlets documented the phrase in vignettes of social life, reflecting its roots in spontaneous, stress-free exchanges typical of the era's vibe. The expression evolved from these niche origins in countercultural and informal settings into established urban slang by the . By 1978, it was already being dubbed Australia's "national motto" in popular discourse, signaling its transition to a hallmark of broader colloquial speech amid the country's growing cultural confidence. This development mirrored the decade's and , solidifying "no worries" as a concise emblem of unpretentious in .

Core Meaning and Interpretations

The phrase "no worries" functions primarily as an interjection in Australian English, serving as a casual dismissal of concern, apology, or thanks, equivalent to "no problem," "that's all right," or "you're welcome." It is a colloquial shortening of the phrase "not to worry." It conveys reassurance that no trouble or obligation has been incurred, often in informal interactions to minimize the significance of an event or favor. This core semantic role emerged in the late 1960s as a hallmark of spoken Australian vernacular. Nuances in its interpretation include providing emotional reassurance during stressful situations, where it signals acceptance and diffuses tension without demanding reciprocity for minor assistance. Unlike more formal responses in other English varieties, it embodies a laid-back attitude that prioritizes social harmony and goodwill, often reflecting underlying cultural values of informality and tolerance. Linguistically, it is classified as a phrase rather than a literal statement, with a relaxed phonetic in typically rendered as /ˌnəʉ ˈwʌriz/. While the literal interpretation might suggest an absence of anxiety, the phrase's idiomatic use emphasizes its role as a social lubricant, distinct from any direct of and focused instead on affirmative ease and relational positivity. This non-literal underscores its embeddedness in high-solidarity communication, where it fosters without imposing accountability.

Usage Patterns

Contexts in Australian English

In Australian English, "no worries" is commonly employed as a reassuring response to apologies, expressions of thanks, or minor inconveniences, signaling that no issue exists and alleviating any perceived obligation. For instance, in such as and retail, it frequently serves as a polite dismissal of customer concerns or , embodying a casual acceptance without further elaboration. This usage aligns with its role as a negative politeness strategy, minimizing the imposition of the interaction while maintaining social harmony in everyday exchanges. The phrase appears with high frequency in informal settings, including conversations among friends and , where it reinforces relational bonds through its understated tone. Linguistic surveys indicate that it is reported with an average self-reported frequency of approximately 91.5% among over 1000 respondents in casual interactions, underscoring its in relaxed, spoken dialogues. At social gatherings like sports events, it similarly punctuates exchanges, such as acknowledging a teammate's error or a spectator's minor delay, highlighting its adaptability to spontaneous, low-stakes scenarios. Regional variations exist within , with survey data revealing self-reported usage rates of 91.1% in , 94.7% in , and 91.5% in Victoria, showing slight differences across states. Though the phrase remains ubiquitous across the nation, reflecting broader patterns in corpora from the late 2010s and early 2020s. These differences, drawn from multigenerational samples, illustrate how "no worries" adapts to local communicative norms while consistently conveying a relaxed attitude. Common variations of the phrase "no worries" in Australian slang include "no wuckas," a playful derived from the "no wuckin' furries," itself a for "no fuckin' worries," emerging prominently in the 1980s as a lighthearted alternative that preserves the original's reassuring intent. Other frequent substitutes are "no stress," used interchangeably to dismiss concerns or indicate that no issue arises from a situation, and "all good," a casual affirmation signaling everything is fine without complication. Related expressions within the Australian lexicon that echo the optimistic dismissal of "no worries" include "," an idiomatic assurance that things will turn out adequately despite minor setbacks, originating from a colloquial of abstract situations or objects as feminine, akin to replacing "it'll be right" with "she'll be right" for added informality. Another is "fair dinkum," which serves as an assurance of authenticity or genuineness, with roots in 19th-century dialect where "dinkum" denoted a fair share of work, evolving in by the late 1800s to mean honest or true in intent. In digital communication, these phrases have adapted through abbreviations and emojis on Australian platforms, such as "nw" for "no worries" in text messages or chats to convey quick reassurance, often paired with a thumbs-up or to amplify the laid-back vibe without diluting the core message of nonchalance. This evolution reflects broader trends in online , where brevity enhances the slang's casual accessibility across generations. Linguistically, these variations and related terms reinforce "no worries'" casual tone by employing phonetic shortening, euphemisms, and , all of which maintain the phrase's function as a low-stakes reassurance in everyday interactions, emphasizing relational over formal acknowledgment.

Cultural Significance

Reflection of Australian Values

The phrase "no worries" embodies the laid-back mentality central to Australian culture, often intertwined with the expression "," which conveys optimism and a casual of life's uncertainties. This attitude traces its roots to the bush pioneer history of early , who cultivated resilience and resourcefulness amid the challenging conditions of the Australian , fostering a cultural of adaptability and minimal fuss in daily hardships. In reflecting egalitarian values, "no worries" serves to level social interactions by dismissing obligations or apologies without , promoting a sense of and equality that transcends class or status differences. This usage underscores Australia's commitment to informality, where hierarchies are downplayed to build and mutual respect in interpersonal exchanges. The phrase plays a key role in shaping , positioned as a hallmark of Australian that encapsulates informality, resilience, and a collective downplaying of concerns to reinforce cultural cohesion. Often termed the "national motto," it highlights how like "no worries" contributes to a distinct sociocultural of approachability and . During historical events such as economic downturns, the "no worries" mindset has exemplified community support and national resilience, as seen in analyses of Australia's avoidance of recession amid the 2008 global financial crisis, where policy responses and public optimism sustained social unity and recovery efforts.

Comparisons with International Equivalents

In , the phrase "no worries" is often equated with "," a more direct expression used to reassure that an action posed no difficulty, particularly in casual responses to thanks or apologies. This American variant emphasizes practicality and minimal effort, contrasting with the Australian original's broader dismissal of any potential emotional burden. In , "not to worry" functions similarly as a reassurance but carries a more understated, sometimes paternalistic tone, often reserved for situations involving mild concern rather than everyday politeness. The Australian "no worries" distinctly connotes emotional ease and a relaxed approach to interpersonal interactions, prioritizing psychological comfort over explicit problem resolution, unlike the solution-oriented "" in American usage or the reassuring yet formal "not to worry" in British contexts. This laid-back nuance reflects cultural preferences for informality in , where the phrase diffuses tension without delving into details. Internationally, equivalents include the French "pas de souci," which shares a casual, tone to indicate that no issue exists, often in social or service settings. In German, "keine Sorge" directly translates to "no worry" and serves to calm apprehensions in a precise, literal manner, though it is less idiomatic in polite responses compared to its English counterparts. Cross-cultural linguistic analyses highlight variations in frequency and tone; for example, "no worries" appears more routinely in informal Australian discourse than in , where it remains peripheral to formal norms, as evidenced by pragmatic repertoires in English variants. Such differences underscore how reassurance phrases adapt to cultural expectations of directness and emotional expressiveness. The influence of "no worries" extends to regional pidgins, notably in Papua New Guinea's , where adaptations like "maski" (meaning "never mind" or "no worries") incorporate the phrase's reassuring essence in creole communication.

Global Influence and Adoption

Spread Through Media and Tourism

The phrase "no worries" gained significant international recognition through the 1986 film , in which Paul Hogan's character Mick "Crocodile" Dundee repeatedly uses it as a signature expression of laid-back Australian demeanor, contributing to the movie's global box office success of over $328 million and exposing the idiom to audiences in the United States, , and beyond. Australian television exports, particularly the long-running soap opera Neighbours which premiered in 1985 and aired internationally from 1986, further disseminated the phrase by incorporating everyday Australian colloquialisms into its dialogue, influencing language adoption in the , where the show attracted audiences of up to nearly 20 million during its peak in the late 1980s and 1990s. Tourism promotion efforts amplified this exposure; for instance, Tourism Australia's 2019 "Philausophy" campaign, budgeted at $38 million and featuring celebrities like , highlighted a "no worries attitude" as one of nine core Australian values to attract global visitors, with the initiative running across billboards, , and television in markets including the and . In the digital era, the phrase proliferated through 2000s internet culture and social media platforms, often appearing in memes and user-generated content that stereotyped Australian casualness, with adoption peaking in the 2010s alongside the rise of Australian celebrities such as Hemsworth and Margot Robbie in Hollywood films and online endorsements. The Oxford English Dictionary records the phrase's earliest citation in 1965 from Sydney's Oz magazine, but notes a marked increase in usage post-1986, coinciding with media exports. A 2023 linguistic study using the Global Web-based English corpus examines negation patterns across world Englishes, listing "no worries" among colloquial negators and highlighting variations influenced by cultural factors.

Reception and Backlash in Other Countries

The phrase "no worries" has seen positive adoption in several English-speaking countries outside , particularly through cultural exchanges involving expatriates, , and media influences. In , it is recognized as a colloquial expression shared with , often used in informal contexts to mean "" or " worry about it," as noted in linguistic analyses of regional varieties. By the , it had become integrated into everyday Canadian , serving as a casual response equivalent to "it's all good" or "," reflecting influences from Australian and immigrants and . Similarly, in the , the expression gained traction during the same period, appearing in as a relaxed acknowledgment, partly due to shared ties and exposure via Australian expatriates. In the United States, however, "no worries" has faced significant backlash, particularly for its overuse in as a substitute for "." A 2022 article in highlighted how the phrase, popularized through Australian media exports like the film (1986) and the Sydney Olympics (2000), became ubiquitous in American casual speech by the early 2000s but led to irritation over its perceived dismissiveness. This culminated in campaigns to "banish" it, including its inclusion on Michigan's State University's (LSSU) annual of overused words that year, where nominators criticized it as an unnecessary imposition on the recipient's emotions, with one stating, "If I’m not worried, I don’t want anyone telling me not to worry." Linguists have described this reaction as a cultural mismatch, noting that in its original Australian context, the phrase functions as a phatic minimizer rather than a directive. Recent linguistic studies indicate a shift in the phrase's global perception, with its novelty waning as it integrates into broader English , potentially reducing its distinctiveness outside and . A 2024 analysis of pragmatic markers in emphasized its formulaic role but noted increasing awareness of its regional origins amid wider adoption, suggesting a toward less novelty in international contexts.

References

  1. https://www.rd.com/article/no-worries/
  2. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jan/04/no-worries-how-america-came-to-banish-australias-go-to-phrase
  3. https://qz.com/192475/how-no-worries-became-a-thing-surfers-crocodile-dundee-and-the-lion-king
  4. https://www.oed.com/dictionary/no-worries_int
  5. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/aug/04/how-the-oz-obscenity-trial-inspired-protest-art
  6. https://eprints.jcu.edu.au/1279/2/02whole.pdf
  7. https://slll.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/andc/meanings-origins/all
  8. https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/asset/102490-state-savings-bank-no-worries
  9. https://slll.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/andc/meanings-origins/n
  10. https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstreams/0ef246aa-e42e-48f2-896b-07cf735c4d52/download
  11. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/weng.12702
  12. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/390049981_Negative_politeness_and_no_worries_in_Australian_English
  13. https://wfil.uwr.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/sites/171/2022/12/Rozprawa-Doktorska-M.-Szymanska.pdf
  14. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/no_wuckas
  15. https://www.etymonline.com/word/dinkum
  16. https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/fair-dinkum-true-blue-aussie-mate/
  17. https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/en/podcast-episode/aussie-slang/ag11e3xvj
  18. https://www.abc.net.au/education/radio-national-slang---language-and-generational-change/13953222
  19. https://www.saal-org.com/post/australian-english-reimagined-structure-features-and-developments
  20. https://study.com/academy/lesson/australian-culture-history-facts-traditions.html
  21. https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/en/article/teaching-aussie-slang-and-idioms/sth1exn79
  22. http://www.economist.com/sites/default/files/special-reports-pdfs/australia.pdf
  23. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211695825000832
  24. https://theconversation.com/pas-de-souci-the-french-war-on-saying-no-worries-168878
  25. https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/alles-in-ordnung-reflections-on-german-order
  26. https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/thankyou.htm
  27. https://theconversation.com/go-toss-your-cookies-elsewhere-ten-phrases-that-cause-confusion-across-the-anglosphere-174543
  28. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20150427-pervs-greenies-and-ratbags
  29. https://www.bigissue.com/culture/tv/neighbours-changed-the-world/
  30. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/oct/30/australia-latest-tourism-ad-have-we-reached-a-new-low-philausophy
  31. https://mumbrella.com.au/tourism-australia-follows-up-dundee-with-38m-philausophy-campaign-604534
  32. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376028310_Variation_in_world_Englishes_through_the_lens_of_negation
  33. https://www.getours.com/expert-travel-advice/language-tips/popular-canadian-slang-words-meanings
  34. https://www.lssu.edu/resources/about-lssu/traditions/banishedwords/year/
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