Smack the roo

Early 17th century. From Latin, smackus de roois. Theory of origin: from the time of Seneca; first noted use in Letters from a Stoic. From the verb, "smacka-da-roo," signifying a real up-and-comer, go-getter, straight-shooter, and other hyphenated synonyms. One who "smacks the roo," from Augustus Caesar on to Joan of Arc and to present-day Margaret Thatcher, is not afraid to take charge of any given situation, to be the captain of their soul, the master of their fate. Made popular by "Invictus," Wiliam Ernest Henley. Also made popular by certain intrepid Australians smacking kangaroos, but let's not get into that...

Babushka: Did you see how MC pretty pants got that promotion at AWS through sheer hard work and effort?
Macushla: Yeah, she's pretty awesome. She's been known to smack the roo from time to time, but she must've really smacked the roo in that last quarter.