Good day mates! Ever been chilling with your squad when some uppity drongo wanders over with an “Oi mate!” that just rubs you the wrong way? i feel you.
And even though they technically haven’t done anything wrong, you still want to clap back with a slick response to put them in their place. But what do you say without looking like a complete galah? Read on, my friend. I’ve got you covered!
What’s the best response when someone says “Oi mate!” to you?
The best response is to calmly say “Good day” or “How’s it going?”
The key is to not get immediately defensive or confrontational. Stay chill. Give a friendly greeting back to catch them off guard and set the tone that their rude approach isn’t going to phase you. Some other good options are:
- “Well hello to you too!”
- “I’ve been called worse by better.”
- “Nice weather we’re having, eh mate?”
The list goes on, but the main point is to respond in a way that shows their aggression isn’t getting under your skin. Kill them with kindness! Read below for more examples across different situations.
When Someone Says “Oi Mate” Aggressively
Don’t Mirror Their Energy
Keep calm and carry on.
Getting aggressive back will just escalate tension. Instead, stay relaxed and give a friendly greeting to throw them off balance. For example:
- “G’day mate! Something I can help you with?”
- “Easy there buddy. No worries on my end.”
- “Having a bit of a rough one today?”
Similar friendly responses include:
- “No worries here, just cruising along.”
- “All good over here, how ’bout you?”
- “Taking it easy, taking it easy.”
- “Cool as a cucumber, and you?”
When It Seems Like They Want To Start Something
Kill Them With Kindness
Meeting aggression with warmth often diffuses conflict.
Get them off guard by being extremely nice back. For instance:
- “I’m fantastic, thanks for asking! Hope you’re having a stellar day too.”
- “Life’s too short for bad vibes, my friend. Why don’t we talk about something cheerful?”
Other upbeat responses:
- “Sending good thoughts your way in hopes your day gets better!”
- “No bad vibes over here. Just smiles and sunshine.”
- “Negativity isn’t my jam. I’m just trying to spread good feels.”
- “Hey friend! Let’s chat about something rad instead.”
When Someone Says “Oi Mate” In A Flirty Way
Give It Right Back To Them
A little flirt never hurt anyone!
Get cheeky yourself with comebacks like:
- “Well hey there, beautiful! To what do I owe the pleasure?”
- “Couldn’t stay away, could ya? I tend to have that effect on people.”
More playful responses:
- “Fancy meeting you here! Come here often?”
- “Oi yourself, hot stuff! Need me to sign something for you?”
- “Lookin’ good mate! But not as good as me, of course.”
- “And a very fine oi to you too, my friend!”
Hilarious Comebacks
Sassy responses
“Well butter my biscuit and call me a koala, it’s my friend from down under!”
This Southern-inspired sassy comeback puts some sweetness into your reply while bringing up references from Australian culture. Continue on to find more clever responses playing with stereotypes in a cheeky way.
- “Throw another shrimp on the barbie for me, would ya mate?”
- “I’d offer you some Vegemite but I’m all out, sorry mate!”
- “G’day to you too, Mr. Crocodile Dundee!”
- “Good to see ya, kangaroo jack!”
- “Howdy partner! Loving that Aussie accent of yours.”
Snarky replies
“Oi yourself, you little ankle biter!”
Firing back some classic Australian slang lets them know you won’t back down from their cheeky greeting. Read below for more ways to snark right back while showcasing your knowledge of Aus lingo.
- “Fair dinkum, mate! What’s the good oil?”
- “No wucking furries! How’s tricks, my friend?”
- “How ya going, cobber? Having a blue without me?”
- “Let’s not beat around the coolibah tree here, friend!”
- “Good on ya for that hello, mate! What’s up?”
Sarcastic comebacks
“Oh wonderful, my favorite Australian dingbat decided to drop by!”
Fight fire with fire by responding to their joking jab with some teasing sarcasm of your own. Discover additional mocking one-liners below.
- “Well bite my bum! If it isn’t my buddy from the land down under, hey mate!”
- “Greetings, you little ripper! To what do I owe the pleasure?”
- “About time you showed up, I was just putting some shrimp on the barbie for us!”
- “Oh look, Crocodile Dundee came crawling out of the Outback!”
- “Didn’t recognize you without your cork hat and croc wrestling gear!”
Lighthearted responses
“G’day, mate! Fancy seeing your smiling face here!”
Kill ‘em with kindness by volleying back something sweet natured and cheerful. Continue reading for more friendly replies.
- “Well hooroo to you too! Great to see ya, bud!”
- “Hey friend, no need to get your knickers in a knot! How’s your day going?”
- “Greetings legend! What kinda mischief are you getting up to today?”
- “Ahoy matey! Welcome aboard the good ship Friendship!”
- “‘Ello gov’na! Top o’ the morning to ya!”
Humorous replies
“Throw a shrimp on the barbie for me, would ya mate?”
Have a laugh together by responding with funny Australian stereotypes. Discover more below!
- “Where’s your crocodile and cork hat, mate? Let’s wrestle some crocs!”
- “I have some lovely pavlova waiting for my favorite Aussie!”
- “Want to hop in my kangaroo’s pouch for a ride around town?”
- “We should grab some tinnies and watch the footy together!”
- “Let’s throw boomerangs and play didgeridoos all day long!”
How To Reply To A Girl
Girls often use “oi mate” as a playful greeting to friends. When responding:
- Keep things lighthearted
- Flirt back if there’s mutual chemistry
- Avoid negativity or aggression
- Compliment them to make them feel confident
Some examples:
- “Why hello there beautiful! Great to see ya.”
- Well if it isn’t my favorite person! What’s the good word?”
- “Oi yourself cutie pie! Someone is looking fine today.”
How To Reply To A Guy
With guys, an “oi mate” can sometimes be more confrontational. When responding:
- Diffuse tension with friendliness
- Stand your ground if needed
- Redirect conversation to positive topics
- Don’t escalate aggressive energy
Some examples:
- “Easy buddy, just here to have a good time like you.”
- “G’day to you too! Gorgeous weather right?”
- “All chill over here mate, take it down a notch.”
- “No worries at all, let’s talk about something fun.”
Key Takeaways
- Don’t mirror aggression when responding
- Kill them with kindness and friendliness
- Flirt back if appropriate to set a playful tone
A Beautiful Oi in the Key of You
At the end of the day, how you respond to an “oi mate” comment says more about your character than theirs. So stand tall, exude confidence and kill them with kindness. Show those would-be hecklers that their words can’t dull your shine. Respond to rudeness with grace, to hostility with compassion. Set the tone with warmth and soon enough that positive energy will ripple on out into the world.
So next time someone pops off with an aggressive “oi mate,” smile back serenely. Dust away their grumpiness by shining even brighter. And pioneer peace through the disarming power of responding to ugliness with beauty – one cheeky “oi!” at a time. Just remember: their anger ain’t about you. So let it roll off your back as you walk forward in cheeriness, secure in the radness within.
I’m Sarah Koch, a Relationship Coach based in Austin, Texas. With over 9 years of professional experience and degrees in Sociology and Counseling Psychology from UT Austin, I specialize in helping people build healthy, fulfilling relationships. On this blog, you’ll find practical tips and insightful guidance for improving communication, resolving conflicts, increasing intimacy, and fostering deeper connections in your romantic relationships, family dynamics, friendships and more.
