Rhyming Slang

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Cockney Rhyming Slang

In East London, a special slang developed in the middle of the 19th century. The slang expressions combine usually two or three words, with the last word of the expression rhyming with the word the expression stands for. Usually, only the first word of the expression is used and the expression is unrelated to the intended word.

Secret Communication

Cockney rhyming slang used to be a form of Pidgin English, difficult for those outside of 'the know' to understand. It formed a kind of coded communication or a secret language. It is not known exactly how it came about, but some think it was a way for traders to communicate with each other or for use between criminals. It may also have been simply a way to bond a community together by the use of a special usage of English.

Some of the slang has died out of common usage but many of the expressions are still in use in London and many have become a very common part of English throughout the whole country.

The slang term is usually a two or three word phrase, but in common usage often only the first word of the expression is used.

Butcher's hook: look

In context: 'Take a butchers at that!'

Meaning: 'Look at that!'

Ruby Murray: curry

In context: 'I fancy a ruby tonight'

Meaning: I'd like to eat a curry tonight

Whistle and flute: suit

In context: 'He looks dapper in his new whistle'

Meaning: He looks smart in his new suit

Boat race: face

In context: 'With a boat like that no wonder you put her off'.

Meaning: With a face like that it is no surprise she was discouraged by you

In context: 'Put a smile on your boat (race)'

Meaning: Smile!

Trouble and strife: wife

In context: 'I'd better get 'ome to the trouble (and strife)'

Meaning: 'I will go home now to my wife'

Syrup of figs: wig

In context: 'Look at the syrup on 'im!

Meaning: Look at the wig he is wearing

Brown bread: dead

In context: 'This time next week he'll be brown (bread)'

Meaning: This time next week he will be dead

Barnet Fair: hair

In context: 'Take a butchers at his barnet!'

Meaning: Look at his hair

Bread and honey: money

In context: 'You got any bread?'

Meaning: Have you got any money?

China plate: mate

In context: 'lend us a tenner, me old china'

Meaning: Please lend me ten pounds, my friend/mate

Cream crackered: knackered (tired/broken)

In context: 'I'm cream crackered'

Meaning: I'm really tired

Joanna: piano

In context: 'He plays a good tune on the ol' Joanna'

Meaning: He plays a good tune on the piano. (Piano sounds like 'piana' in the cockney accent)

Loaf of bread: head

In context: 'Use your loaf'

Meaning: Use your head / Think about it

Plates of meat: feet

In context: 'Get them plates moving'

Meaning: Get your feet moving / Get walking

Sky rocket: pocket

In context: 'That will put some money in your sky rocket'

Meaning: That will put some money in your pocket / That will earn you some money

Tea leaf: thief

In context: 'She took me purse, the little tea leaf'

Meaning: She took my purse, the thief

Brassic Flint: skint

In context: 'I can't go out tonight , I'm brassic'

Meaning: I can't go out tonight because I don't have any money

Dog and bone: phone

In context: 'Get on the dog and tell him about it'

Meaning: Use the phone and tell him about it

Apples and pears: stairs

In context: 'Get up those apples, quick!'

Meaning: Climb the stairs, quickly!

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