Phrases & SayingsWork, bush and rural life
on the sheep's back
Also: Australia rode on the sheep's back
A phrase linking Australia's prosperity to the wool industry; often ride/live on the sheep's back.
In a sentence
In this historical or contextual use, “on the sheep's back” means a phrase linking Australia's prosperity to the wool industry; often ride/live on the sheep's back.
Where it came from
The Australian National Dictionary Centre directly documents the phrase and its long association with Australia's wool economy.
- Initial era
- 1950–1999
- Where used
- Australia-wide