COCKNEY
RHYMING SLANG
I would imagine
most people have come across rhyming slang at some time or other, even if
only in the movies - and may not even have realised it. It is sort of
texting in reverse - whereas texting abbreviates the actual words, rhyming
slang is a longer version.
A lot of the phrases
themselves have become shortened over the years e.g. Joanna (Piano), Tit for
Tat (Hat) is shortened to "Titfer" and "I'm Boracic"
means "I have no money".
The following lists some
of the good old originals, whereas others have been added more recently.
| PHRASE |
MEANING |
| Adam and Eve |
Believe |
| Alan Whickers |
Knickers |
| Almond Rocks |
Socks |
| Apples and Pears |
Stairs |
| Aristotle |
Bottle |
| Artful Dodger |
Lodger |
| Ascot Races |
Braces |
| Baked Bean |
Queen |
| Baker's Dozen |
Cousin |
| Ball and Chalk |
Walk |
| Barnaby Rudge |
Judge |
| Barnet Fair |
Hair |
| Barney
Rubble |
Trouble
Jayme Gibbs |
| Basil Fawlty |
Balti |
| Battlecruiser |
Boozer |
| Boat Race |
Face |
| Bob Hope |
Soap |
| Boracic Lint |
Skint (no money) |
| Brahms and List |
Pissed (drunk) |
| Brass Tacks |
Facts |
| Bread and Cheese |
Sneeze |
| Bread and Honey |
Money |
| Bricks and Mortar |
Daughter |
| Bristol City |
Titty |
| Brown Bread |
Dead |
| Bubble Bath |
Laugh
(Robert
Davis) |
| Bubble and Squeakl |
Greek |
| Butcher's Hook |
Look |
| Chalfont St. Giles |
Piles |
| Chalk Farm |
Arm |
| China Plate |
Mate |
| Cobbler's Awls |
Balls |
| Cock and Hen |
Ten |
| Cows and Kisses |
Missus
(wife)
Ken Dryden |
|
Ken also
advises that this has been around for years and is the origin of the very
common (but wholly un-PC) phrase "Silly Cow" (usually applied
nowadays to any woman perceived by a man to be doing something daft!) |
| Currant Bun |
Sun |
| Daisy Roots |
Boots |
| Darby and Joan |
Moan |
| Dicky bird |
Word |
| Dicky Dirt |
Shirt |
| Dinky Doos |
Shoes |
| Dog and Bone |
Phone |
| Duck and Dive |
Skive |
| Duke of Kent |
Rent |
| Dustbin Lid |
Kid |
| Elephant's
Trunk |
Drunk
Ken Dryden |
| Fireman's Hose |
Nose |
| Flowery Dell |
Cell |
| Frog and Toad |
Road |
| Gregory Peck |
Cheque |
| George Raft |
Draught |
| Gypsy's Kiss |
Piss (urinate) |
| Hampton Wick |
Prick |
| Hank Marvin |
Starving |
| Isle of
Wight |
Tight
Ken Dryden |
| Jam Jar |
Car |
| Jimmy Riddle |
Piddle/Widdle (urinate) |
| Aunt Joanna |
Piano |
| Khyber Pass |
Arse (backside/bottom) |
| Kick and Prance |
Dance |
| Lady Godiva |
Fiver (Five pounds) |
| Lionel Blairs |
Flares (I.e. trousers) |
| Loaf of Bread |
Head |
| Mickey Bliss |
Piss (urinate) |
| Mince Pies |
Eyes |
| Mork and Mindy |
Windy |
| Mutt and Jeff |
Deaf |
| North and South |
Mouth |
| Oily Rag |
Fag (cigarette) |
| Pat and Mick |
Sick |
| Peckham Rye |
Tie |
| Pen and Ink |
stink (smell) |
| Plates of Meat |
Feet |
| Pony and Trap |
Crap (sort of manure!) |
| Porky Pies |
Lies |
| Rosie Lee |
Tea |
| Roast Pork |
Fork |
| Round the Houses |
Trousers |
| Rub-a-Dub |
Pub (Public House/Bar) |
| Ruby Murray |
Curry |
| Salmon and Trout |
Snout (tobacco/cigarette) |
| Sausage Roll |
Goal |
| Sherbert Dab |
Cab |
| Skin and Blister |
Sister |
| Sky Rocket |
Pocket |
| Sweeney Todd |
Flying Squad |
| Syrup of Figs |
Wig |
| Tea Leaf |
Thief |
| Thrupney Bit ***
Two Bob Bit*
|
Shit
(sorry) Robert
Davis
See note below
|
| Tom Tit |
As
above.
John Cole
|
| ***A
"thrupney bit" was a 3 pence piece before decimalisation in UK. |
| "Peter"
has corrected on this one -
Thrupney Bit(s) is apparently slang for
"Tit(s)" and, he also advises Tupney bit is the slang for "Sxxx"
.
I am not sure about this, however, as
"tupney" is short for tuppence (two pence) and the two pence
piece is a fairly new coin. I think it may be "Two bob
bit" (* a two shilling piece also known as a florin) which is the slang
for "sxxx".
Dave Row has
also confirmed this.
Well, I am glad we have
cleared that one up!!!! |
| Tit for Tat (Titfer) |
Hat |
| Todd Sloane |
Alone |
| Tom and Dick |
Sick |
| Tom Foolery |
Jewellery |
| Tommy Trinder |
Window |
| Trouble and Strife |
Wife |
| Vera Lynn |
Gin |
| Weasel and Stoat |
Coat |
| Whistle and Flute |
Suit |
There are two other pages on this
subject; a list sorted by words and
another providing examples of sentences using
rhyming slang.
ANY ADDITIONS WOULD BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED
june@hintsandthings.com
|
