General
thongs
What does thongs mean?
Rubber sandals held on by a strap between the toes; called flip-flops elsewhere.
"Just wear your thongs down to the beach."
Origin
From the Old English 'thong' meaning a strap. In Australia and New Zealand it refers to flip-flops; elsewhere 'thong' shifted to mean skimpy underwear, creating cross-cultural confusion.
Frequently asked questions
What does thongs mean in Australia?
Thongs are flip-flops — rubber sandals with a toe strap, not underwear.
Why do Aussies call flip-flops thongs?
The word 'thong' originally meant a strap, and Aussies applied it to the strap-between-the-toes sandal before the underwear meaning took over elsewhere.
What are double pluggers?
Double pluggers are thongs with two anchor points on the strap for extra durability — a bogan footwear classic.
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