wowser - noun - (Australian) - a puritanical, prudish person or killjoy
As you already know, the English language is spoken throughout the world. As the United States has such a particularly loud voice no matter what the forum, many speakers of other languages have heard it. Desiring to echo its strength or merely to understand it, many systems have instituted educational requirements to include it in curricula as a second language. The non-indigent Australians, however, have always spoken English as originally Australia was a penal colony of Great Britain, the founders of modern English. Whether or not the reason relates to their former status, Australians have always had a sense of humor unlike some of their British relations although the Brits tend to have more documented and used swear words than any other people, which does say a lot. The Aussies embrace words like today's wowser to express themselves effectively with a comedic sense, something indisputably admirable.
Surely, you know at least one wowser, a person that would rather complain about selfish concerns rather than kick up his or her heels and enjoy surrounding circumstances. At every party, there is at least one who pours a glass of ice water over the embers of carefree laughter by being negative. Fortunately, though, it is possible to redirect some wowsers so that they drink the ice water rather than use it as a tool to douse the delights of others.
Case in point: last night, I attended the annual gathering of two bachelor brothers, friends of mine for forty years and members of Platonic Anonymous. Neither has ever been married. One of our mutual female friends, who has also never taken the vows of matrimony, attempted to cast a pall over the sunshine in order to communicate her fears regarding the state of the Union at present. As I got the impression that the topic was inappropriate given the purpose of the party (to drink and be merry), I removed the shroud verbally, choosing to broach another more appropriate topic: the host's talent for making Italian sausages. I think she got the message.
Wowsers are never the life of any party. Due to circumstances beyond your control, you may be transitioning into a killjoy. If so, stop yourself immediately, and resort to watching swaths of your favorite comedian's routines on YouTube to inspire you to sit back and laugh off whatever is plaguing you. The times are tough. We all need to wear humor as though it is a uniform.
Enjoy your Sunday!
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