FOR the visitor to a barbie, or the tourist, the following short glossary of Australian barbecue terms may help you through the linguistic tangle.
Barbie - a deeply religious practice, south of the equator, round about Australia, steeped in ritual and secretive acts of faith.
It is also the name given to the altar, the focus of the faithful, the instrument of gastric indulgence usually found in the backyard, opposite the Hill's hoist (a distinctive Australian clothes line).
Amber fluid - the intravenous sip of the serious barbecue-goer; grog, booze - libation to the gods. Amber fluid comes in all shapes and sizes - in tinnies, tallies, shorties or stubbies - but always ice-cold.
NT stubbie - they do things big in the Northern Territory.
Stubbie cooler - experienced barbie-goers will have one of these with which to cosset their coldie from the heat of the arvo (see below) while they drink. Otherwise, the esky (see below) holds the tinnies.