toolie

n. in Australia, an older man who preys on or interferes with teenagers celebrating the end of final year secondary school exams. Subjects: English, Australia, Education, Derogatory, Slang

Etymological Note: Perhaps related to tool ‘a stupid person’ by comparison with schoolie ‘a student celebrating the end of final year exams.’ Alternately, it could be influenced by tool v. ‘to drive (an automobile); to cruise (around),’ particularly given the predatory undertones of toolie.

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Citations: 2002 Tracey Gibbons Sunday Mail (Queensland, Australia) (Nov. 24) “Teenagers blame ‘toolies’” p. 4: Schoolies say the violence on the Gold Coast in the past week has been caused by “toolies”—the name they use for the older gatecrashers ruining their party. 2003 AAP (Australia) (May 11) “State Government to crack down on schoolies” (in Brisbane): “The big problem is the sleazy predators who try to take advantage of our kids—‘toolies,’ as the schoolies call them. “I don’t need to spell out that teenage girls are particularly vulnerable to these creeps.” 2004 CBC (Canada) (Nov. 27) “Australia’s ‘schoolies’ warned about drinking” (in Sydney, Australia): About half of those arrested have been people referred to as “toolies,” older men who take advantage of the Schoolies Week celebrations.

Posted 29 Nov 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

Toolie is a surname of a Siberian Yupik ( eskimo) family in Savoonga, Alaska. The traditional spelling is Tuuli

by Michael D. Kimber 26 Feb 06, 0250 GMT