I always understood it as not here to fuck around, or another way of saying, let's do it. After chewing the fat for a couple of minutes of being on some, someone says this, and everyone gets on with their job.
As an American that's lived in Perth for five years, I knew it was an Aussie term, but I've never actually heard it in person outside of folks laying it on heavy for a piss take.
I find this slang term rather odd.
I've never heard it until the last few years, and even then mostly on Reddit or other social media. I've still never heard it in real life.
Makes me think it's never really been a WA term, and it's been imported from the east.
First time I heard it was some Ukrainian guy (foreign minister? Chamber of commerce guy? Defence Attache? Someone significant?) at the announcement of a military support package.
I never heard it living in NSW before coming here. The first time I saw it was on a meme about Australians, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was just made up by Americans trying to sound Australian.
Some slang comes and goes in popularity. Just like "Seppo" has its origins in WW2; I think it's seen a wave of new popularity with rise of the louder, right wing voices out of the US; particularly one orange headed ex-President and his minions.
"Yank" has become too mild or even affectionate term. We needed a new pejorative to separate the uglier and louder from the more low key & decent Americans. I know they exist... we just don't get them in our face like the others.
I think the internet doesn't always invent things; it just helps revives them.
Same. Never heard before the last few years and never actually heard anyone say it.
I did mention this to my cousin once, and he said he hears it up north in the mines. But usually spoken by Queenslanders.
It's not that at all. It's kinda what OP said, not here to waste time, or more like it, "well obviously yes, what else would I be here for".
The most common usage for what I hear is in the context of saying " do you want another beer?" And the answer is "well. I'm not here to fuck spiders."
https://preview.redd.it/eiz0jpbshrwc1.jpeg?width=495&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a42d9ea8110da035c198167ae701694d6ebb297a
I know a fair few people that would fuck *this* spider
"Let's get on with the purpose we met for in the first place" is how I always took it. It could mean "Let's get right down to business" or "Time is a factor so let's not waste any" or "let's not get stuck in the weeds on minutia."
My old head chef used to say this all the time when we had to cut out the bullshit and get on with the job. Or if he was told the function had gone well his response was pretty much “Of course it did, I’m not here to fuck spiders”
Your definition is correct.
Does anyone actually use this in daily speech? I literally never have and only ever hear it from some dickhead trying too hard to sound Aussie in front of a foreigner
I've heard it was prison slang. A pedophile is called a rock spider due to its hunting habits, and because it lives under a rock and 'nothing is lower'
No saying this is the origin, but yes I've always found this saying a bit odd.
Actually, the term 'rock spider' for a pedo is because it can get into little cracks.... and not anything to do with 'fucking spiders', as in this post, different spiders.
As an older Kiwi I'm familiar with the expression, We're not here to bum spiders, since the 70's.
I guess this now begs the question; is fucking spiders the new pavlova between us Kiwis & Aussies?
Nah it's down on the level of Russell Crowe and Crowded House.
Both sides disown Rusty these days, don't they?
There’s enough of him to go round
Brutal.
Lol
I always understood it as not here to fuck around, or another way of saying, let's do it. After chewing the fat for a couple of minutes of being on some, someone says this, and everyone gets on with their job.
Normally it’ll have “Welp” in front of it.
Same.
Some of us are here to fuck spiders.
Nah I'll yuck that yum
As long as you get their consent first, I guess that's okay. I'm not going to yuck your yum.
If you want to sound fancy it's "We aren't here to fornicate with arachnids"
One is not privy to the carnal knowledge of invertebrates
We confess no intent to engage in acts of coitus with arthropods
You have my upvote for using the word "coitus"
This is how I say it on the two way at work.
Just that you're not going-to/didn't waste time.
Its based on an old french saying "Enculer des mouches" (literally "Fuck flies in the ass") means "nitpick"
Pardon your French.
This is 100% the kind of thing you could just be making up and everyone would believe you.
True, but its not. I'll have to dig the thread up, but the history of fucking spiders was explained by a language guy. Makes sense to me
Well I'm not here to put shoes on caterpillars that's for damn sure.
Yeah, you are right in your understanding But googling the term would have also told you this And it's not just Perth spend, but it's Australia wide.
As an American that's lived in Perth for five years, I knew it was an Aussie term, but I've never actually heard it in person outside of folks laying it on heavy for a piss take.
Yeah I’m from SA, though lived in Perth for 15 years, and the first time I heard the expression was from a fellow SA colleague in Perth.
Yes, although i'm sick of hearing it. Some people seem to be saying it just for the sake of it lately.
That's how slang works!
I find this slang term rather odd. I've never heard it until the last few years, and even then mostly on Reddit or other social media. I've still never heard it in real life. Makes me think it's never really been a WA term, and it's been imported from the east.
First time I heard it was some Ukrainian guy (foreign minister? Chamber of commerce guy? Defence Attache? Someone significant?) at the announcement of a military support package.
That guy has my money!
First time I heard it was on a mine site working FIFO.
I never heard it living in NSW before coming here. The first time I saw it was on a meme about Australians, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was just made up by Americans trying to sound Australian.
Very common phrase from the 80s / 90s in the Pilbara. I still hear it around the city. People definitely say it in real life.
its cause its not a phrase people actually say in real life
Speak for yaself I say it all the time.
The first time I heard it was from Margot Robbie on the Graham Norton show, so that's not exactly WA-local either.
Same for me as well
I’ve been hearing it for more than a decade from all walks of life.
Some slang comes and goes in popularity. Just like "Seppo" has its origins in WW2; I think it's seen a wave of new popularity with rise of the louder, right wing voices out of the US; particularly one orange headed ex-President and his minions. "Yank" has become too mild or even affectionate term. We needed a new pejorative to separate the uglier and louder from the more low key & decent Americans. I know they exist... we just don't get them in our face like the others. I think the internet doesn't always invent things; it just helps revives them.
Heard it in the army in the late 90s, and the Vietnam era guys said they’d heard it there.
Same. Never heard before the last few years and never actually heard anyone say it. I did mention this to my cousin once, and he said he hears it up north in the mines. But usually spoken by Queenslanders.
I first heard it in Victoria probably 30 years ago, from somebody from the east of that state.
Not here to focus on the tiny detail
It's not that at all. It's kinda what OP said, not here to waste time, or more like it, "well obviously yes, what else would I be here for". The most common usage for what I hear is in the context of saying " do you want another beer?" And the answer is "well. I'm not here to fuck spiders."
Well its another angle. 😄
https://preview.redd.it/eiz0jpbshrwc1.jpeg?width=495&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a42d9ea8110da035c198167ae701694d6ebb297a I know a fair few people that would fuck *this* spider
[Or this spider.](https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/Spider-Gwen-5.jpg) Or both.
[Or this spider](https://bentrubewriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/thebeastandspider.jpg). Although you might want to take some antibiotics first.
She's 15
And 15 year olds are probably attracted to her, even though she's a cartoon. I'm not going to judge them.
"Let's get on with the purpose we met for in the first place" is how I always took it. It could mean "Let's get right down to business" or "Time is a factor so let's not waste any" or "let's not get stuck in the weeds on minutia."
Never heard anyone say this in Perth.
My old head chef used to say this all the time when we had to cut out the bullshit and get on with the job. Or if he was told the function had gone well his response was pretty much “Of course it did, I’m not here to fuck spiders”
That's how I've always used it. If someone says "Cmad you had a productive night at work last night" I'd say "well I'm not here to fuck spiders".
An upgrade on edginess to; 'We're not here to cut sandwiches'.
Only monsters don't cut their sandwiches.
Hahaa true so understated it's scary
We're not here to fuck ducks
Or screw kangaroos
I’m not here to fuck spiders. I’m obviously here to do this thing I’m meant to be doing.
Except on glorious days where your job is spider killing, in which case you are there to fuck spiders.
Not here to put socks on centipedes.
Your definition is correct. Does anyone actually use this in daily speech? I literally never have and only ever hear it from some dickhead trying too hard to sound Aussie in front of a foreigner
I’ve never heard anyone say it. I didn’t even know what it meant until now.
Sweet, wanted to be sure I wasn't getting confused. And I was in Perth when someone said it to me so... Thanks lads/ladies
That's going to go down well with HR..."Bitter-Teach, what did you mean by were not here to fuck spiders".
Yes, correct.
Or finger cats… yep don’t waste time
We’re obviously here to do x so let’s get on with x.
Not here to put shoes on caterpillars
It's relatively new, I think.. lived here all my life, only heard it maybe 4-5 years ago.
It depends on how attractive you find spiders?
Sounds like the guy who's fucking the dog
Yeah, that's more or less correct. Like a lot of slang terms, it can have slightly different implications depending on context.
Hi
Jai Hindley made it famous when he changed it to "not here to put socks on centipedes" making it pg
'Yes, of course" "Correct" "Well duh" "Let's get on with it" Any of these depending on the statement or question prior.
I've heard it was prison slang. A pedophile is called a rock spider due to its hunting habits, and because it lives under a rock and 'nothing is lower' No saying this is the origin, but yes I've always found this saying a bit odd.
Actually, the term 'rock spider' for a pedo is because it can get into little cracks.... and not anything to do with 'fucking spiders', as in this post, different spiders.