Shout (noun and verb), in Australia, New Zealand, and England, refers to an act of spontaneous giving. Its primary use is in pub culture, where one person in a group elects to pay for a round of drinks for that group. It may be that person's polite way of leaving the group to go elsewhere. In
John O'Grady's ''
They're a Weird Mob'', Nino learns some customs related to shouting. Your turn. :
What is my turn? Your turn to shout :
Why should I shout? Because I shouted you. :
I did not hear you shout at me. He thought for a while and said, I get it. When you buy a bloke a beer, it's called a shout, see? :
Why is that? I haven't a clue, but that's what it's called. I shouted for you, now it's your turn to shout for me. :
I was only a little thirsty. I do not think I wish another drink. He looked quite stern, In this country, if you want to keep out of trouble, you always return a shout, see? :
Is this the custom? Bloody oath, it's the custom. Your turn. In Australian culture one person shouts the first round, then each in turn is expected to shout the next or if they wish to stop drinking the shout the round without buying themselves a drink. This is the sequence described in the
Industrial Relations Court of Australia during the Garsid v Hazeltin Air Services(1997).
Other uses By extension,
shouting can refer to paying for another person's purchase; something they have chosen or will choose for themselves, as distinct from a gift or present. Typical constructions are: • "My shout", perhaps to expedite a minor transaction, as when paying for a shared meal. • "I'll shout you to the pictures"; "I'll shout you a new dress" • "He shouted her to a slap-up meal" Historically, the term "shout" was used by
Rolf Boldrewood in
A Colonial Reformer (1877),
Henry Lawson in his poem "The Glass on the Bar" (1890),
Jack Moses in
Beyond the City Gates (1923) and
Dal Stivens in
The Courtship of Uncle Henry (1946). ==United States==