The 6 Different Kinds Of Old Mate

"Old mate" is the third person equivalent of "mate". IE: You mainly use it when you can't remember someone's name. You know who I'm talking about and I know who I'm talking about, but we both enjoyed a few too many restorative cordials with old mate on the weekend. In case you forgot completely, here's a taxonomy of old mates:

Old Mate From That Movie

Use: You're watching Law & Order: SVU and suddenly, a wild old mate appears. He's been in heaps of movies, you just can't think of them, or him, off the top of your head.

Example: You know, old mate, from that lawyer movie... yeah, Independence Day!

Sporting Old Mate

The Age / Via images.theage.com.au

Use: You're at the pub, talking with your mates, when all of a sudden old mate who likes soccer starts throwing out some wild UEFA Champions League references and it's time to sink or swim.

Example: How good was that goal from old mate Jesus?

Old Mate From The Hundred

Use: All about the Benjamins? More like all about the old mates. Most of us wouldn't have a clue who's on our banknotes.

Example: Wow, a hundred dollar note, I thought these were a myth when they talked about them back in journalism school. Who's old mate on the back?

Old mate Who’s Actually Old

Use: Your mum definitely knows this guy's name and you feel a bit guilty that you don't. Come to think of it, even calling him old mate is a bit rude.

Example: You know who I mean, old mate

Old Love

Use: Ladies can be old mates too.

Example: Old love is obviously well known enough to have a character in The Incredibles so we should probably stop calling her old love, it's probably disrespectful.

Old Mate Whose Name You Actually Know But You Call Old Mate Anyway Because You Want Them To Be Your Mate

Use: Some legendary figures earn the right to be called old mate along with their name. It's the highest honour we can give as a nation (that and the Order of Australia).

Example: Mate, did you see old mate Bob Hawke at the cricket? That man's a national treasure.