Australian Expressions to Indicate Surprise

Today we are going to see an expression that is unique to Australia; Struth!! This curious word is just the contraction form of the expression “is it the truth?” Thus, the meaning is often used to express surprise. For example if someone has just won the lottery, his friend would say: Struth!! It is like saying “Oh my God!! (The main expression that English speakers use)

Other curious expressions that Australian people use for the same meaning are: “strike a light” or “Hogan's ghost”

Regarding the last one, “Hogan’s ghost”, we can add that:

-The Australian National Dictionary tells that "Hogan's ghost!" is an exclamation is recorded from 1930 - and adds that it's origin is "unexplained."

- The Australian National Dictionary suggests that "Hogan's ghost!" might possibly be a euphemism for "Holy ghost!" - making it a softened blasphemy. 

- "Hogan's ghost!" might have been inspired by a Banjo Paterson bush ballad called "The Road to Hogan's Gap" - about a surprisingly dangerous place to travel to.

Here, there is a link to see the bush ballad: Hogan's ghost . Just click down, that's culture!!

Sources: 

<http://www.englishtown.com/community/channels/article.aspx?articleName=157-aussie>

<http://www.abc.net.au/newsradio/txt/s2251570.htm>