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I was used to the language that we had developed with the many races and cultures at school in Singapore. Malaysians, English, Chinese, Indians and more all mixed and managed to communicate. It was an Australian expression that finally managed to surprise me.


Across the road from the school, at the cafe at the HDB Flats (Housing Development Board), was a popular destination in the evening. We would head off to the cafe and eat roti chanai and drink kickapoo joy juice or other beverages that were popular. One evening I went over with an Autralian roommate and he announced as we entered the cafe - “I'll Shout!”. I looked at him and said “Why?” and was about to elaborate by saying that the waiter would be over any moment when he explained that he would buy the drinks!


I now live in Canberra and have heard the expression “My Shout” or “I'll Shout” many times. It still means the same thing as it did the first time I heard it.

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