A term given by Australian media outlets to their mates in professional sport, when trying to cover up a serious misdemeanor you or I would be prosecuted for.
"Geez, Ben Cousins must be the luckiest bloke alive"
"Yeah nah larrikin spirit mate. They said so on the footy review"
A term invoked by Australian media when they want to get one of their mates in sport or entertainment off the hook, after a misdemeanour you or I would be prosecuted for.
"Did you see how full of white candy Footballer X was at the Brownlow Award? Started a fight with the event staff for no reason"
"Yeah nah, larrikin spirit"
"You or I would have been busted for that. There's photographic evidence"
"Yeah nah, just a kid, bit of a larrikin, benefit of the doubt"