“Chuck a U-ey” Means “Make a U-turn”

“Chuck a U-ey” Means “Make a U-turn”

In casual Australian English, chuck a U-ey (pronounced “you-ee”) means to turn the car around by making a U-turn. Chuck does not mean “throw” here; it works as a very informal “do” or “make”. The shortened word has several spellings, including uey, U-ey and U-ie. The Australian National Dictionary Centre dates its earliest evidence to 1973.

It suits spoken directions between people in a car: “We’ve missed it. Chuck a U-ey when it’s safe.” In formal instructions or a driving test, make or do a U-turn is the more natural standard expression. The slang phrase does not make a prohibited manoeuvre legal, of course; road signs and local rules still apply.

https://history.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/andc/australian-words-u
https://www.abc.net.au/education/learn-english/learn-english-australian-slang/7350598


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