Flat out like a lizard drinking 

To be, or have been, hard at work. Originating in Australia.

"G'day mate, how ya been?"

"Mate! I've been flat out like a lizard drinking! This is hard yakka! I've been working on it for yonks!"

Flat out like a lizard drinking by G'day and Well Hey January 21, 2009

Flat Out Like A Lizard Drinking 

Adj. Simile. To be extremely busy to the point of running "flat out," a play on words involving the image of a lizard that physically stretches itself thin to literally drink water from a pond etc.

Slacking off? Are you kidding, mate? I'm flat out like a lizard drinking.

Flat Out Like A Lizard Drinking by TheBadSanta November 2, 2008

flat out like a lizard drinking 

1. verb/simile. To be working really hard, or so under the pump that you've found yourself dehydrated.

2. verb/simile. (sarcastic) Doing nothing at all.

1. How are ya, mate?
Oh, dude, I'm flat out like a lizard drinking.
Up for a brewskie later then?
Yeah, for sure.

2. How are ay, mate?
Oh, dude, I'm flat out like a lizard drinking.
Yeah righto, come out for a brewskie then.
Orright, seeya in a sec.

flat out like a lizard drinking by Ryan Paine February 16, 2008

Flat out like a lizard drinking 

To be not busy.

As a visual metaphor, it implies the opposite to the expression ‘flat out’. A lizard drinking is visually flat against the ground, still, stationary, prostrate, prone and apparently inactive - the opposite of what a person is like when they are busy.

The primary definition that I heard for years amongst colleagues and friends fluent in Strine was the 'not busy' version. It was only recently that I have heard it used to mean 'hard at work' or 'busy'. It feels that the traditional components of visual metaphor and humour in the Strine lexicon have been lost or the expression misconstrued at some point.

Flat out like a lizard drinking -

"Man it's quiet here. You busy?"
“Busy? Flat out… like a lizard drinking… hehehe.”

Flat out like a lizard drinking by InterlocutorInThe1st October 27, 2020

Flat out like a lizard drinkin 

Very busy, "flat out"

"Are you busy, Mike?"

"Busy! I'm flat out like a lizard drinkin!"

Flat out like a lizard drinkin by Lizard Drinkin May 21, 2005

Flat out like a lizard drinkin 

In a hurry, rushing.

"I had to get to the hospital, I was going flat out like a lizard drinkin'"

Flat out like a lizard drinkin by Lizard Drinkin May 21, 2005

Flat out like a lizard drinkin 

Rural Australian slang for
1. laying on one's stomach
2. asleep from being plastered, wasted, etc.
3. Worn out from hard yakka or work

1. The scrum left him flat out like a lizard drinkin.
2. Too much VB and Becky's flat out like a lizard drinkin.
3. *yawn* I'm flat out like a lizard drinkin

Flat out like a lizard drinkin by Luke D Lorenz January 21, 2004