The phrase is a traditional Australian English term. It is used to describe the terms of a game, sport or competition, often a game of chance. A sheep station is a large sheep farm in Australia or New Zealand, hence denoting something important, large or valuable.
The phrase "playing for sheep stations" has both a literal and ironic usage. In the negative, it is used to encourage participants to play in a friendly and not too competitive manner. Playing sport or cards or a game of some sort, but not for prizes, one might say "take it easy, we're not playing for sheep stations". It could be used starting a game of cards or pool for example, to check whether the game would be played for money, beer, or just pride, asking "so, are we playing for sheep stations or what?"
In typical Australian fashion, it can also be used to mean the exact opposite, because a sheep station is such an expensive item that nobody would bet it on a game, the phrase "we're playing for sheep stations" can also be used to mean that the game is purely for sport, and there is no bet or prize involved.
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August 30, 2023
playing, sheep, stations, this, article, does, cite, sources, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2016, learn, when, remov. This article does not cite any sources Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Playing for sheep stations news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message The phrase is a traditional Australian English term It is used to describe the terms of a game sport or competition often a game of chance A sheep station is a large sheep farm in Australia or New Zealand hence denoting something important large or valuable The phrase playing for sheep stations has both a literal and ironic usage In the negative it is used to encourage participants to play in a friendly and not too competitive manner Playing sport or cards or a game of some sort but not for prizes one might say take it easy we re not playing for sheep stations It could be used starting a game of cards or pool for example to check whether the game would be played for money beer or just pride asking so are we playing for sheep stations or what In typical Australian fashion it can also be used to mean the exact opposite because a sheep station is such an expensive item that nobody would bet it on a game the phrase we re playing for sheep stations can also be used to mean that the game is purely for sport and there is no bet or prize involved References Edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Playing for sheep stations amp oldid 832476004, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
