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Kookaburra

Posted by Lotg on July 02, 2004

In Reply to: Lotg posted by ESC (U.S.) on July 02, 2004

: Do you know the origin of "Sitting up like Jackie"? See June 30 post. I googled and found that it was an Aussie phrase.

I have no proof of this, it's just what I've always believed as I was growing up - but Jackie is a term for a kookaburra. Kookaburras are very alert, perky, powerful (and to my mind) absolutely stunning birds (large kingfishers actually), and I always understood the term to mean that if you're sitting up like Jackie, then you're looking very smart, being very attentive, stand out in the crowd.

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