General
down under
What does down under mean?
Australia and New Zealand, so called for lying in the southern hemisphere.
"They spent a year travelling Down Under."
Origin
From Australia's position 'down under' the equator on the globe.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Down Under' mean?
Down Under is a nickname for Australia, and sometimes New Zealand, because they lie in the southern hemisphere below the equator on a globe.
Does 'Down Under' include New Zealand?
It usually refers to Australia but is often used to cover New Zealand too, since both sit in the lower part of the map.
Where does the phrase 'Down Under' come from?
It comes from Australia and New Zealand's geographic position 'down under' the equator, on the underside of the world map as drawn in the northern hemisphere.
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