What to wear on a hot day

I spent nearly 5 years of my childhood in Australia, so the roots of my English is Aussie English. I came back to Japan when I was 12, equipped with basic structure of the language, and had not much problem in easy communication.

I have always thought that Australian English was close to British English, so I did not think that I would have much trouble when I went to England in my early twenties to study for a year. However, I experienced that little odd differences make big misunderstanding.

It was unusually hot day for a summer in England, and I was talking with my flatmates about what each of us were doing that afternoon.


'I think I'll go to TESCO (supermarket) and get food for the week'

'But we can't give you a lift today, Maki. Will you be alright?'

'I'll be alright. I'll walk down there, not that far. Will wear my new thong today.'

'....Ah, yeah, it's a hot day... yeah, thong.... yeah.'


My friends looked at me with bewilderment. I could not figure out why, but I did not care much, happily put on my new thong, and went to the supermarket.


thong (OED)
1. a narrow strip of leather or other material, used especially as a fastening or as the lash of a whip.
2. a skimpy bathing garment or pair of knickers like a G-string.
3. <Austral.>a light sandal or flip-flop.


Oh, dear. I meant 3...
But my friends must have imagined 2, me wearing G-string to the supermarket.