Definitions
- Referring to an Australian wanderer who carries a swag (a bedroll or bundle of belongings) and travels on foot in search of work or adventure. - Describing a person who lives a transient lifestyle, often camping or sleeping rough, and relying on odd jobs or handouts for survival. - Talking about a person who embodies the spirit of independence, resourcefulness, and resilience in the face of adversity.
- Referring to a person who travels by hopping freight trains, often in search of work or adventure. - Describing a person who lives a transient lifestyle, often camping or sleeping rough, and relying on odd jobs or handouts for survival. - Talking about a person who embodies the spirit of freedom, nonconformity, and adventure.
List of Similarities
- 1Both swagmen and hobos are wanderers who live a transient lifestyle.
- 2Both rely on odd jobs or handouts for survival.
- 3Both embody the spirit of independence, resourcefulness, and resilience.
- 4Both have a sense of adventure and a desire for freedom.
- 5Both are associated with a nonconformist attitude and a rejection of mainstream society.
What is the difference?
- 1Mode of transportation: Swagmen travel on foot, while hobos often hop freight trains.
- 2Equipment: Swagmen carry a swag (bedroll or bundle of belongings), while hobos often have a bindle (a bundle of possessions tied together).
- 3Connotation: Swagman has a more positive connotation, associated with the pioneering spirit and the Australian outback, while hobo can have a negative connotation, associated with poverty, homelessness, and criminality.
Remember this!
Swagman and hobo are synonyms that refer to wanderers who live a transient lifestyle, relying on odd jobs or handouts for survival. While they share many similarities, such as a sense of adventure, independence, and resourcefulness, they also have some differences, such as their origin, mode of transportation, equipment, connotation, and etymology.
