Many examples of rhyming slang are based on locations in London, such as "Peckham Rye", meaning "tie",[24]:265 which dates from the late nineteenth century; "Hampstead Heath", meaning "teeth"[24]:264 (usually as "Hampsteads"), which was first recorded in 1887; and "barnet" (Barnet Fair), meaning "hair",[24]:231 which dates from the 1850s. The most widely recognised Cockney rhyming slang terms for money include pony which is 25, a ton is 100 and a monkey, which equals 500. Since both coal and coke used to be supplied in large blocks that had to be broken down before their use. Cockney rhyming slang is a traditional and fun extension of the English language. List of Cockney rhyming slang in common use [ edit] The following is a list of well-known (to Londoners) examples of Cockney rhyming slang. Unfortunately she doesn't know a lot of it. The 1967 Kinks song "Harry Rag" was based on the usage of the name Harry Wragg as rhyming slang for "fag" (i.e. Which to receive sometimes can be very cold comfort. So, for example, the above sentences asks you if you if you like talking on the phone with friends and enjoy a cup of tea in the mornings? Mind you, half the expressions you've got here were coined in the last fifty years, mostly on the box ('Only Fools & Horses', 'Till Death Do Part' etc). ", Use: "I'm off to the caff for some Merlyn, are you coming? Cake also means money, as in "a cake of notes" that also needs to be given and taken. The historic native wit of this east end community (and its followers from around the world) often has an interesting logic to its phrases. In this case only the first word ever. Great hub. From 'apples and pears' to 'weep and wail', an A to Z of Cockney rhyming slang and the meanings behind the east end's most famous linguistic export, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. [19][22][21], It remains a matter of speculation exactly how rhyming slang originated, for example, as a linguistic game among friends or as a cryptolect developed intentionally to confuse non-locals. He comes up with a fake story as to the origin of Cockney Rhyming slang and is caught out rather quickly. There are many lists of CRS terms. Translation: windscreen wiper. Noun. Many imported safety matches were of poor qualityand often failed to ignite when scratched against the side of the box. I'll have to really study up on this to get it down though! Tony Sky (author) from London UK on February 25, 2014: PS.. Suggested by the effect of a flower pot dropped from a window above on to someone below. For example, the word "Aris" is often used to indicate the buttocks. The final word of the substitute phrase rhymes with the word it replaces, for example, the cockney rhyming . Cockney slang insults are fun and unique phrases, but they won't make sense if you don't have a basic understanding of how they're formed. I don`t even think about it as being different from my normal "give me a look" or "let me see". How to Market Your Business with Webinars. [14]:29 An example of rhyming slang based only on sound is the Cockney "tea leaf" (thief). These residents are known as Cockneys. 1 Cockney Is Dying Out, So Now's As Good A Time As Ever To Pick It Up. As water is part of the fisherman's landscape. Rate any slang as: 1998-2023 - Privacy Policy ", Use: "What's given you the Donald, then? The expression is a variant of the earlier (now defunct) 'loaf of bread', which was in use in the British forces in the 1930s. Its rhyming patterns can make fun of even the most boring situations. Voting up! thanks for that it was great. The drink. Here's an item from the Lima Times Democrat, Sept 1894, which is the earliest reference I can find from America. In The Jeffersons season 2 (1976) episode "The Breakup: Part 2", Mr. Bentley explains Cockney rhyming slang to George Jefferson, in that "whistle and flute" means "suit", "apples and pears" means "stairs", "plates of meat" means "feet". For example, instead of using the word 'look' the rhyming phrase 'butcher's hook' is used. You may remember your grandparents speaking it. [24]:30 Similarly, "use your loaf", meaning "use your head", derives from "loaf of bread" and also dates from the late nineteenth century but came into independent use in the 1930s. When you hear people using British street slang like this, especially insults, you might find yourself in need of a Cockney translator. 4: 4 "Queen's Pawn" 23 January 1975 () These days the rhyming slang term is more used than the medicine. how that horse laughs! It isn't clear whether this is intentional, to hide one's meaning from the law, or to exclude outsiders, or whether it is just a form of group bonding. Brilliant, right? Translation: Shilling [25], In some cases, false etymologies exist. The appearance of rough white marble resembles a sugar lump and being a soft stone (when newly quarried) it is easy (ie sweet) to work with. Translation: virus. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. from First found in a 1983 episode of John Sullivan's Only Fools and Horses. What is Crossrail 2 and What is Its Current Status? Referring to a late 19th century act of daring where a performer strapped to a wheel whizzed round on a coiled track. I'm desperate for an Alex. ", Use: "I got some flowers to surprise me cheese, she loved it. Peter Freeman from Pen-Bre, Cymru/Wales on April 03, 2010: 'Allo china; well i was walkin down the kermit when I sees this geezer 'avin' a bull and cow wiv 'is trouble. The video below is a traditional Cockney song "Maybe It's Because I'm a Londoner.". from Some examples of Cockney slang words are further down the page. the country, and hearing a horse neigh, exclaimed, Please leave this field empty. In the sterling sense. Log in. In the British undergraduate degree classification system a first class honours degree is known as a "Geoff Hurst" (First) after the English 1966 World Cup footballer. These residents are known as Cockneys. Mutt and Jeff were the lead characters in a strip cartoon, first published in 1907. For which a long indulgence can have a considerable effect upon the skin. As a name, 'Cockney Rhyming Slang' is 20th century, as are the majority of examples of CRS terms. British-born M.C. drop in an eastend cabin cruiser n top hat to an ol' pot n pan n maybe if ya buy 'im a ship full sail, 'e'll teach ya! Canary from New York on January 09, 2020: What an extensive list. Policeman. If deliberate, it may also have been used to maintain a sense of community, or to allow traders to talk amongst themselves in marketplaces to facilitate collusion, without customers knowing what they were saying, or by criminals to confuse the police (see thieves' cant). And while we are on the subject Comp, does it make you stop and do a double take when someone says Portobello Road instead of "Portabella"- or Notting Hill instead of"Not-in-`ill" . Love it! Both Hotten and Anglicus record this rhyme as Hounslow Heath, which has fallen out of favour. 1908. Cockney rhyming slang is fun to learn, an interesting new way to discover new words, and a way to expand your knowledge of British popular culture. but a few are adjectival, e.g., "bales" of cotton (rotten), or the adjectival phrase "on one's tod" for "on one's own", after Tod Sloan, a famous jockey. See . [30], Rhyming slang is often used as a substitute for words regarded as taboo, often to the extent that the association with the taboo word becomes unknown over time. One early US show to regularly feature rhyming slang was the Saturday morning children's show The Bugaloos (197072), with the character of Harmony (Wayne Laryea) often incorporating it in his dialogue. 1958. No pork pies neither bruv, don't watch dat. In it he says his father has trouble putting on his boots "He's got such a job to pull them up that he calls them daisy roots". However, with this handy guide, you'll soon have a "Scooby" (Scooby-Doo = clue) of what they mean. 1887). Michael Murchie from Parts Unknown on November 03, 2010: Brilliant and fun hub! The men in my family are very cockney and use a LOT of this in regular conversation, I forgot that it isn't actual English. 1908. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 1987. Potatoes can be stored by heaping straw and earth over them in a domed construction known as a mould. Privacy Policy. MF Doom released an ode entitled "Rhymin' Slang", after settling in the UK in 2010. It is disappearing very fast. The track was released on the 2012 album JJ Doom album Keys to the Kuffs. [24]:14[26], Rhyming slang is used mainly in London in England but can to some degree be understood across the country. William F Torpey from South Valley Stream, N.Y. on May 19, 2008: This is pure genius, compu-smart. The first uses of scarper are from the 1840s. Something went wrong, please try again later. Partick Thistle are known as the "Harry Rags", which is taken from the rhyming slang of their 'official' nickname "the jags". The modern sense of the word was in use by the 16th century. Great post. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. I've always been facinated by rhyming slang ever since I saw it used in the remake of Ocean's 11 (the Brit talkes about being in Barney, and when they don't understand him goes through the explanation of Barny Rubble = trouble). Quack - is slang for a doctor that is suspected of not have the correct qualifications. Following the pattern of omission, "and pears" is dropped, thus the spoken phrase "I'm going up the apples" means "I'm going up the stairs". I doubt many in Oklahoma will understand! It originated in the East End of London to conceal what people were saying - and is still being used today by many East End residents, young and old. There's even less justification for the name these days than there was when it was coined. Since people sentenced to that 19th century punishment could not keep still for a second. Believe it if you will: A nick name given to the citizens of London, ", Use: "If you need some work done on your car my cousin's a great ginger beer. I'm going down the frog and toad to cash a Gregory Peck because Im Jimmy Flint <I'm clapping my hands and dancing around the room> More compusmart--give us more! Roberta Kyle from Central New Jersey on May 21, 2008: Now I;ve got it! Where did the term Rhyming slang come from? Boracic lint was a wound dressing, impregnated with a boric acid to prevent infection. Many are also made up or changed over the time. It is also parodied in Going Postal by Terry Pratchett, which features a geriatric Junior Postman by the name of Tolliver Groat, a speaker of 'Dimwell Arrhythmic Rhyming Slang', the only rhyming slang on the Disc which does not actually rhyme. [citation needed], Outside England, rhyming slang is used in many English-speaking countries in the Commonwealth of Nations, with local variations. - Terms and Conditions - Contact us, See also: Queenie - affectionate term Brits use to refer to Queen Elizabeth II (the current Queen) Quasimodo - is Cockney rhyming slang for soda water. Use: "I had to take my laptop to the shop because I opened an email with a nasty Billy Ray attached." 13. What does Cockney rhyming slang mean in English? There are several tourist-type phrasebooks such as Rhyming Cockney Slang by Jack Jones, . An effeminate man, suggestive either by their neatness of dress, or by "powder puff". If that didnt make for a happy memory, what could? Here's a guide to the most commonly-used Cockney rhyming slang: To the Cockney, the phrase "steps and stairs" describes the idea of gradation. Get the latest nostalgia features and photo stories from MyLondon straight to your inbox. The most widely recognised Cockney rhyming slang terms for money include pony which is 25, a ton is 100 and a monkey, which equals 500. Rhyming slang is a form of slang word construction in the English language. ("wife"). Ashok Rajagopalan from Chennai on May 21, 2008: Thanks, will bookmark this hub. Rather than simply a rhyming association, the slang reflects meaning in the expressions themselves. All rights reserved. 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'On the currant bun' was police slang for 'on the run' from 1959. Alan R Lancaster from Forest Gate, London E7, U K (ex-pat Yorkshire) on June 01, 2015: Interesting stuff Tony. from These days he'd get taken to the cleaners for that, even though I wasn't/aren't one. Fistfights ensued. a cigarette). If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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Thx. London Guide: Our Favorite Restaurants in London London Restaurant Recommendations for Americans Whats Your Favorite? "Stand to attention" rhymes with pension, and has its origins in the pensioners at the Royal Chelsea Hospital, a retirement home for veterans of the British Army. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Cary Grant's character teaches rhyming slang to his female companion in Mr. Lucky (1943), describing it as 'Australian rhyming slang'. These phrases belong to the vernacular of Cockney rhyming slang, a code-like way of speaking that originated in mid-19th century East London. Choose from our vast selection of EBOOK and PDF 3. Referring to the saying that "money was made round to go round". 7 Whats the difference between a ton and a pony? ", Use: "That's it, I've had a French egg now. Referring to the London County Council's notice to the effect that a bell was rung and the gates locked at dusk. It is likely that these early uses weren't rhyming slang and derive from the Italian 'scappare', meaning 'get away'. These are rarely used since cold stores have been available and the expression probably dates from the Victorian era or earlier. Sometimes known as "Doggett's" as watermen who possessed the Doggett Coat and Badge could charge higher fares than those without. It works by taking a phrase that rhymes with a common word, and then replacing that word with the phrase. lol. any of us know that "brown bread" is Cockney rhyming slang for dead, "china plate" for mate, and "bubble bath" for laugh. CREATED BY TRUE COCKNEYS! Being a cockney geezer myself I especially love it. The date of this is uncertain but Rank was born in 1888 and died in 1972. Before Liverpool Street Station was rebuilt there was a pub at the back of Platform 15 called 'The Apples & Pears' (sited at the foot of the stairs that lead up to the Great Eastern Hotel and the upper walkway). The phrase trouble and strife rhymes with wife. So, a Cockney might say something like: Watch out, Freds trouble and strife is stomping down the street.. As in that due to a long-serving, retired soldier. Hibernian are also referred to as "The Cabbage" which comes from Cabbage and Ribs being the rhyming slang for Hibs. [14]:30, The use of rhyming slang has spread beyond the purely dialectal and some examples are to be found in the mainstream British English lexicon, although many users may be unaware of the origin of those words. [21]:74, Lesser taboo terms include "pony and trap" for "crap" (as in defecate, but often used to denote nonsense or low quality); to blow a raspberry (rude sound of derision) from raspberry tart for "fart"; "D'Oyly Carte" (an opera company) for "fart"; "Jimmy Riddle" (an American country musician) for "piddle" (as in urinate), "J. Arthur Rank" (a film mogul), "Sherman tank", "Jodrell Bank" or "ham shank" for "wank", "Bristol Cities" (contracted to 'Bristols') for "titties", etc. As flower buyers have to keep very early hours to buy their produce at Covent Garden flower market. The whole area has been changing very, very fast due to tens of $billions of new redevelopments. London-based artists such as Audio Bullys and Chas & Dave (and others from elsewhere in the UK, such as The Streets, who are from Birmingham) frequently use rhyming slang in their songs. ", Use: "The Alan's jammed with paper again. Susan Keeping from Kitchener, Ontario on May 20, 2008: Patty Inglish MS from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on May 20, 2008: I like these a lot. As in the idea of "so near and yet so far" relating to a busy pub with a throng of waiting customers. Its good to see that the creativity of Cockney slang lives on. Rhyming slang, Sceptic Tank = Yank. The live-action Disney film Mary Poppins Returns song "Trip A Little Light Fantastic" involves Cockney rhyming slang in part of its lyrics, and is primarily spoken by the London lamplighters. The hospital was shit. Many of the early rhymes listed in Hotten and Anglicus have now gone out of use; for example, 'Billy Button - mutton' and Maidstone jailer - tailor'. There . Meanwhile at Heathrow Airport, DS Carter accompanies a seriously injured passenger to hospital by ambulance. Stand to Attention. A lot of cockney rhyming slang refers to alcohol. Rhyming slang is also used and described in a scene of the 1967 film To Sir, with Love starring Sidney Poitier, where the English students tell their foreign teacher that the slang is a drag and something for old people. decode this n i'll give you an apple core!!! ", Cockney rhyming slang is one of the main influences for the dialect spoken in A Clockwork Orange (1962). Still, I grew up around this language and wanted to say thank you for helping me remember them and their fantastic use of language. : Khyber pass = a*** (elsewhere in England this would rhyme with ass)Hamsteads = Hampstead Heath = teethHampton = Hampton Wick = dick/prick. ", Use: "I've not got enough wonga to get coffee from Lisa. I wanted to use him . Uncle Fred's yer friendly Cockney translator. An upper second class degree (a.k.a. A&E patients to be turned away from St Thomas' Hospital as nurses launch most extreme strike yet this weekend. Danny, 17-Jul-2021 The way rhyming slang works does tend to exclude those not 'in the know', as the substitution of one word for another often relies on reference to a key phrase, which, for the slang to be understood, must be known jointly by those communicating; for example, to get from 'Hamsteads' to 'teeth', one must have heard of Hampstead Heath. As bees are the epitome of work, work produces money, the possession of which is sweet. Before reading your post I would havesaid I don`t ever . but come to think of it, Ioften tell my children to get the "dog and bone" (never shorten it to bone, though) . reading HubPages certainly makes you stop and think (about the strangest things !) That's because, although rhyming slang was associated with London, and particularly with London street traders, there never has been anything specifically Cockney about it. Cockney Rhyming Slang is just shorthand for London or English rhyming slang. 'dustbins' meaning 'children', as in 'dustbin lids'='kids'; 'Teds' being 'Ted Heath' and thus 'teeth'; and even 'Chitty Chitty' being 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', and thus 'rhyming slang'). As gravy was plentiful at mealtimes in both services. Rhyming slang is believed to have originated in the mid-19th century in the East . Imagine how many unassuming customers were taunted! 1977. The list below includes examples that are still in use. So far, we haven't mentioned 'Cockney', nor you might notice do any of the early citations above. This manner of speaking is not limited to put-downs and snarky remarks. Similarly, The Sweeney (197578) alludes to the phrase "Sweeney Todd" for "Flying Squad", a rapid response unit of London's Metropolitan Police. Do you like talking on the 'dog and bone' with friends and do you enjoy a cup of 'Rosie Lee' in the mornings? It was customary for each community in each London borough to elect a leader. Not seen in print with Sun newspaper meaning until the 1979. Happy Father's Day! It comes from the harry Potter film and is something to do with a secret password. Also used regularly is a score which is 20, a bullseye is 50, a grand is 1,000 and a deep sea diver which is 5 (a fiver). But how many know the meaning of the phrases? Cockney Rhyming Slang: Origin Story Cockney insults display a level of shrewdness that's difficult to rival. The mention of Portobello conjures up a picture of four of us, me, my brother, and two friends picking our way through the lane lined with stalls. "Cockney," in the most literal definition, refers to a person born in the Cheapside area London, within earshot of the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow. ", Use: "This cat keeps hanging about my garden, I reckon it's a gamma. ", Use: "Where's your loo? . E.g. Septic Tank: Americans As a box of toys, particularly a new one given as a present at Christmas time, causes a great deal of noise to be made. Thanks for the brass tacks. Each slang is ranked and rated by real Cockney speakers. A cynical reference to the bog standard level of menu of the average mess for the "other ranks". Some Cockney terms have even made it into everyday language, as with writers who love to get down to brass tacks when gearing up for the next essay or report. Cockney rhyming slang may have been around since the 16th century, but it really came to life in the 1840s among market traders and street hawkers. When I think of Cockney, I always think of Bing Crosby's 1940 recording of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," which I love to hear. Corned (beef) = deaf or, in Scotland, deif. Know what 'Iron hoof' means? So, stairs, which in cockney slang is 'apples and pears', becomes 'apples' as in, 'he's gone down the apples'. Iloved this CS. Log in, Ten Cheap Things You Can Do in London on a Budget, Ten London Exhibitions to Look Forward to in 2023, Londons Non-Free Museums: Your Guide to Londons Museums That Charge Admission, Trip Planning: Top 10 Exhibitions To Plan Your 2018 Trips to London Around. Also used regularly is a score which is 20, a. from To make matters worse, English regional dialects are loaded with unique words and sayings which can confuse even native speakers.But cockney rhyming slang is surely the most difficult feature of the language for non . What is Crossrail 2 and What is Its Current Status? "Berk" (often used to mean "foolish person") originates from the most famous of all fox hunts, the "Berkeley Hunt" meaning "cunt"; "cobblers" (often used in the context "what you said is rubbish") originates from "cobbler's awls", meaning "balls" (as in testicles); and "hampton" (usually "'ampton") meaning "prick" (as in penis) originates from "Hampton Wick" (a place in London) the second part "wick" also entered common usage as "he gets on my wick" (he is an annoying person).