Doing a Nellie Melba

phrase

Saying goodbye over and over without actually leaving.

Person 1"Is Nan leaving?"

Person 2"She's been doing a Nellie Melba for an hour."

You'll also hear

Doing a Farnsysame, after John Farnham

More farewells than Nellie Melbalonger version

Where it's from

Opera singer Nellie Melba made a run of "farewell" tours in the 1920s. John Farnham did the same from 2002.

Hello and goodbye

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While you're here

How's ya chooks?
Means 'how are you?', won't hear it much in the cities but still said by old bushies.
What's the John Dory?
What's the story? What's happening, or what's the news?
Off like mum's pants on Father's Day
Leaving right now, in a hurry.
Shoot through like a Bondi tram
Leave quickly.
Off like a bride's nightie
Leaving quickly.
Gone faster than a fart in a fan factory
When a crowd of people leave all at once.

Random one for ya