...as (always)

okay, so here's a kiwi-ism for you (everyone who has visited me here so far knows about this already): [adjective] as. it's a construction they use here ALL THE TIME. basically it means "really [adjective]".

the classic and most common phrase is "sweet as" (typically as part of "sweet as, bro"), which can mean anything to "that's good" to "yes" or general assent. this one is on t-shirts they sell at the really touristy shops. but the "...as" phrase rears it's head everywhere. a brochure for the east cape of the north island (the easternmost point in the country) says "east as". i had a student tell me that one of his simple homework assignments was "easy as". one of the ultimate players described a throw as "straight as". you get the idea.

i have been here for nearly nine months now and i'm still undecided as to what i think of this. i don't think i hate it, but i haven't brought myself to start using it (other than to imitate kiwis) either. it's either cool as or stupid as. i can't decide which.