Thread: Shirt Fronting

It appears, God help us, that Australia has added a new phrase to the diplomatic lexicon - shirt fronting. It's a thing they do in Aussie rules football apparently, but essentially means an aggressive, mostly testosterone-driven "in your face" confrontation.

It's been popularised by our wise and statesman-like Prime Minister Tony Abbot who threatened to shirtfront Vladimir Putin over Russia's role in the plane shot down over the Ukraine recently.

Abbot subsequently did not shirtfront Putin, but I for one would have loved to have seen it as I've been told Putin has a black belt in Judo... I believe one of Abbot's aides must have known this also, which is why our Prime Minister bravely backed away when the rubber hit the road.

So anyway, I propose a new phrase for the diplomats: The Abbot Discrepancy - the gap between blustering in front of your domestic media and your actual actions.

Anyone else got some diplomatic phrases they'd like to make up?

James.

Yes Putin has a judo black belt, but I'd rather deal with him than his bodyguards,,,,

An old one here is"

Alligator mouth and hummingbird ass

I have a Glock....I'll gladly deal with all of them:-)

When I was 26, instead of 66, I wouldn't have needed it.

"I have not had sex with that woman."

Originally Posted by Jimbo

It's been popularised by our wise and statesman-like Prime Minister Tony Abbot who threatened to shirtfront Vladimir Putin over Russia's role in the plane shot down over the Ukraine recently.

Abbot subsequently did not shirtfront Putin

Well, of course - our dear drug Volodya does not believe in shirts

Some of my recent favourites from the mouth of Abbott.

1. "That was an aspirational promise".
2. "That was a non-core promise".

Man! He would fit right in with this pile we have!

It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is

Putin's girlfriend is attractive and talented.
This is Putin's extremely flexible girlfriend [PHOTOS] | The Daily Caller