Phrases & SayingsEveryday life
things are crook in Tallarook
Also: things are crook at Tallarook
Things are going badly or circumstances are unpleasant.
In a sentence
With the ute broken and rain coming, things were crook in Tallarook.
Where it came from
The saying pairs crook, meaning bad or unwell, with the Victorian place name Tallarook for rhyme and rhythm. It is now an old-fashioned, humorous way to announce trouble.
- Initial era
- 1800–1899
- Where used
- Victorian place-name origin; once wider Australian use