Chookas

As far as I'm aware the term is specifically australian. I first came across it in WA but have heard it used in other states.

Chookas ... and you find saying "break a leg" a little silly.

;-) 

Cheers
Grant

--
Director, actor and administrator of this website

Your almost right Christine!
Except it is an ocker term exclusively.
I tried to search for a post I put on the previous forum eons ago, but nothing?
I first came across it at the old firm of JCW’s way back in a prestroke life.
There was a poem that went with it, but I can’t remember it now.
The bit I do recollect is the complete term is ‘Tio Tio Tio Chookas’ loosely meaning ‘With hear & sole. May you always play to a full house’
Also the actions which go with the poem, were using your right hand, pat your left heart 3 times with the words ‘tio’ & jump up on ‘Chookas’.
There are still a few old members of the ‘Firm’ & possibly some still on the perch, that played the ‘halls’  back in the 1900’s. Who may remember the old poem?
But Chookas was derived during the days of the ‘Halls’. At a time when it was considered a delicacy to have a meal of chook & it could cost almost a good weeks pay, unless you were lucky enough to be in digs that had them in the back yard.
At best the ‘Coolgardie safe’ or if the Iceman cometh, was the only way to keep meat generally.
On the halls & indeed with most theatre productions performance fees paid depended on the box office take for the performance, Much the same as little jonny would like to do & virtually come in full circle - so there is nothing new there in the IR laws!
Apparently the SM or Manager would check the house before the ‘Beginners Ready’ cue & advise if they were to have chook to night or not. Hence the call would go around back stage, something like "chook it is" tonight everyone, which became shortened to chookas after a while.
Supposedly’ Tio Tio Tio’ was added with the influx of European performers around that ttime, suggested to mean ‘With heart & sole’!
This would also falls in line with the old chook raffles of the time, when the publican or whoever was running it,  would create interest in the raffles by continually calling out various things from chooks to chookas!
For those interested I hope it helps?

Chookas 

{hear the light & see the sound} 

I was vaguely aware that Chookas came from "will we have chook or not" but regardless, I always found a little less confronting than either "Break A Leg" or "Good Luck" and such derivatives.

Someone mentioned that it sounded a little goofy. Well for me, that was the big attraction. It was a little odd and unusual, and I must admit I am often drawn to that. It has sort of infiltrated my vocab somewhat as I now say "Chookas" instead of "Cheers" when toasting.

And hey, if you want bizaar words, go see Wah-wah by Richard E. Grant where you will hear

Wah-Wah (noun) = incomprehensible manner of speaking by affected British ex-pats, a silly babyish way of talking

Toodle Pip (noun) =  good bye, used when making exit

Hoity-Toity (adj) = aloof manner of a person who is a terrible snob

Hubbly-Jubbly (adj) =  very nice, lovely

La-Di-Da (adj) =   silly, pointless

Jolly Good Show (noun) =  well done, excellent

Old Bean (noun) = friend (male or masculine woman who might play golf or smoke a pipe)

Scrubbed-Up (adj) = someone who looks presentable when they are clean, which they generally are not

Chop-chop (adj) = get a move on, hurry up, generally said to females

Smarty-pants (noun) = know it all, not someone you would want to be sat next to at dinner

Bit of a to-do (noun) = fight or social gathering that goes wrong when you accidentally mix people who don't like each other (or have run off with other peoples partners who might be there and still feel rather miffed about it)

You-know-who (noun) = someone that everyone knows but cant be mentioned by name, who might be important or have run off with someone important (or their husband or wife)

Brou-ha-ha (noun) = a lot of fuss by people who are a bit loud, possibly people who are a bit common - see "people who go caravanning"

Hush-hush (adj) = something that should not be talked about - but is, like a secret that everyone knows

Ding-dong (adj) = marvellous, very good, top hole

Diddly-doozup (noun) =  something like an event  that you cant describe any other way or have forgotten the word for, for example: if you are suffering from "a touch of sunstroke"

Hooty-snooty (adj) = the manner of someone pretentious who speaks wah-wah

Tra-la-la (noun) = something to say when you have forgotten what to say (see "touch of sunstroke")

Dimbo (noun) = someone who isn't very clever but might be well bred

Panisfied Ponce (noun) = a boy who is a bit girly and plays with dolls

Dolly Boy (noun) = see above

Coven of bitches (noun) = a posh ladies organisation or social group, an ideal place to have a good natter, term generally used by ladies who are not invited to join

Not quite Cheltenham (adj) = somewhere that isn't Cheltenham and certainly doesn't have a nice girls school

Touch of sunstroke (term) = feeling dizzy and staggering around or trying to kiss other people you aren't married to, caused by drinking too much whiskey

People who go caravanning (term) = poor people who cant afford hotels and who might be a little common

The old "you know what" (term) = drink or alcohol or a nice stiff cocktail

Like National Geographic (term) = somewhere you can see lots of ladies boobs but not feel ashamed of having a good look

http://www.wahwahmovie.co.uk/ - Source

Absit invidia

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
who can also sing ... and occasionaly dance
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

NOOOOO! Oh the humanity. How could you .... Oh ... You didn't. Whew that was a close thing. Saw all my Christmas's at once there.

Of all the Theatrical Superstitions, that would have to be the most weird and the most powerful. I have seen even the most sceptic of actors recoil in horror at the very thought of mentioning the unmentionable play. Quite powerful indeed.

Absit invidia

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
who can also sing ... and occasionaly dance
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

I have just done a google search myself and found, on www.waopera.asn.au a nifty guide to opera including the glossary of terms "toi, toi, toi'. 

It says: Isn't only used in the English speaking countries and it's actually originated in the sound of spitting! Background: Back in the days people believed for superstitious reasons that spitting was supposed to ban bad luck, so it was a common thing to say "toi toi toi" (which was supposed to imitate the sound of spitting 3 times) while knocking on wood to wish good luck to someone.

Doesn't explain Chookas.  Same search revealed that the Toi Toi Waterfall is in New Zealand.

Rapunzel

"Papa, where is Mama? They tell me she has gone away, where is she?"