Phrases & SayingsWar, service and history
swing the banjo
Use a shovel or pick; dig.
In a sentence
In this historical or contextual use, “swing the banjo” means use a shovel or pick; dig.
Where it came from
Australian service records document swing the banjo in historical military use; its deeper origin is uncertain.
- Initial era
- 1900–1949
- Where used
- Australian military usage; historical