Home Random Page


CATEGORIES:

BiologyChemistryConstructionCultureEcologyEconomyElectronicsFinanceGeographyHistoryInformaticsLawMathematicsMechanicsMedicineOtherPedagogyPhilosophyPhysicsPolicyPsychologySociologySportTourism






History of Cockney Rhyming Slang

Cockney rhyming slang has uncertain roots. It is said that it was once spoken by the thieves of London. It would certainly have been a very effective code, being incomprehensible to the authorities or any eavesdroppers who were not familiar with the slang. There is little evidence, however, to suggest that it was particularly widespread.

The problem in researching its origins is that it was largely a spoken language with very few written records. What is more, if it was a secret code used by traders, entertainers, and thieves, then the secret has been well kept. We will never be certain how widespread its usage once may have been.

The Cockneys were – and for the mostpart still are – working class Londoners. The word comes from cockeneyes (14th century) which means eggs that are misshapen, as if laid by a cock. The word went through a series of usages over the centuries, and it came to be used to refer to city folk, ignorant of 'real life'.

Nowadays the definition of Cockney is often one which originated during the 17th century. It refers to anyone born within the sound of Bow-bells. These are the bells in the tower of St. Mary-le-Bow, commonly but in fact erroneously called Big Ben (Big Ben is not the tower, but the largest of its bells). The term is still usually used in a somewhat derogatory sense.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A649

Cockney Rhyming Slang

 

 
     
 
 

A dialect found mostly in East London, where people obviously have more time to say what they want to say, and are more paranoid about being overheard. The principle is to decide what it is you want to say, and then find words which bear no real relation to what you're going to say, but which rhyme loosely with your phrase.

Sometimes the connection is totally obscure. For example, 'Bottle and Glass' (Arse) was obviously a bit racy, so it is put at one remove with 'Aristotle' = Bottle. This is then contracted again so that you say 'Aris', which is almost exactly what you started out trying not to say. Some secret language...

Cockney rhyming slang used to be a form of Pidgin English designed so that the working Eastenders could have a right good chin wag without the toffs knowing that they were talking about them. These days people just make it up for a laugh, so young streetwise Londoners say things like 'Ah mate, 'ad a right mare I did, got chucked out me pad, blew me lump, and now fings wiv the trouble and strife have gone all pete tong!'

Here's our horribly incomplete list of popular Cockney rhyming slang. If you know any others, why not post them to the forum below?

Cockney Meaning Example
Adam and Eve Believe I don't bloody Adam and Eve it!
Alan Whickers Knickers Okay, okay, keep yer Alans on!
Apple Fritter Bitter (beer) They've got some new Apple at the Battle.
Apples and Pears Stairs Get yer Bacons up the Apples and Pears.
Aris Arse Nice Aris!
Army and Navy Gravy Pass the Army, son.
Artful Dodger Lodger I've got an Artful to help pay the rent.
Ayrton Senna Tenner (ten pound note) You owe me an Ayrton.
Bacon and Eggs Legs She's got a lovely set of Bacons.
Bang Allan Border Bang out of order He's bang Allan (used when someone does something nasty to someone else).
Barn Owl (Barney) Row (argument) 'Ad a Barney with me Artful 'cos 'e refused to give me my Ayrton's.
Barnet Fair Hair She's just got her Barnet chopped.
Boat Race Face Smashed 'im in the Boat.
Battle Cruiser Boozer (off license) I'm off to the Battle to get some Apple.
Bottle and Glass Arse He fell on his Bottle.
Brass bands Hands I shook him by the Brass.
Bread and Honey Money He's got loads of Bread.
Britney Spears Beers Give us a couple of Britney's will ya?
Brown Bread Dead He's Brown Bread.
Bubble Bath Laugh You're 'avin' a Bubble.
Butcher's Hook Look Take a Butcher's at that!
Chevy Chase Face He fell on 'is Chevy.
China Plate Mate How are you, me old China?
Christian Slater Later See ya Slater.
Cream Crackered Knackered (tired/broken) I'm Cream Crackered!
Currant Bun Sun The Currant Bun's hot today.
Daisy Roots Boots 'Ere, put on yer Daisies.
Danny Marr Car I'll give you a lift in the Danny.
David Gower Shower Give us half an hour mate I've gotta go for a David.
Dicky Bird Word He hasn't said a Dicky in hours.
Dog and Bone Phone She's always on the Dog.
Donkey's Ears Years Ain't seen you in Donkeys.
Drum'n'Bass Face Look me in the Drum.
Dudley (Dudley Moore) A score, or 20 pounds Loan me a Dudley?
Elephant's Ears Beers Get the Elephants in, mate!
Frog & Toad Road I was walking down the Frog...
Half Inch Pinch (steal) Someone's half-inched me Ayrton.
Ham'n'cheesy Easy Ham'n'cheesy does it.
Hank Marvin Starving (hungry) I'm Hank Marvin.
Jam Jar Car Me Jam Jar's Cream Crackered.
Jimmy Riddle Piddle (urinate) I really need to go for a Jimmy.
Joanna Piano He's great on the Joanna.
Khyber Pass Arse He kicked him up the Khyber.
Lady Godiva Fiver (five pound note) Lend us a Lady, mate.
Lee Marvin Starving I'm bloody Lee Marvin mate.
Lemon Squeezy Easy It was Lemon, mate.
Lionel Blairs Flares Look at the Lionels on 'im.
Loaf of Bread Head That's using the old Loaf.
Mince Pies Eyes You've got lovely Mince Pies my dear.
Mork and Mindy Windy It's a little bit Mork and Mindy today, innit?
Mother Hubbard Cupboard There's no grub in the Mother.
Nanny Goat Coat How much for the Nanny?
Nelson Mandela Stella (Artois) Mine's a pint of Nelson!
Nuclear Sub Pub Fancy a quick one down the Nuclear?
Oily Rag Fag (cigarette) Gis' an Oily, mate.
Pen and Ink Stink Eurgh! That Pen and Ink's!
Pete Tong Wrong Everything's gone Pete Tong.
Plate of Meat Street I was walking down the Plate...
Plates of Meat Feet I've been on me Plates all day.
Pony £25 Lend me a Pony?
Pony and Trap Crap This game's a bit Pony.
Pork Pies (Porkie Pies) Lies He's always telling Porkies.
Queen Mum Bum Get off your Queen Mum.
Rabbit & Pork Talk She Rabbits on a bit.
Raspberry Tart Fart That Raspberry bloody Pen and Inks.
Richard the Third Turd That bloke's a complete Richard.
Rosie Lee Tea If you're brewing a pot, I'll have a Rosie.
Round The Houses Trousers Take a Butcher's at those Rounds!
Ruby Murray Curry I'm going for a Ruby.
Saucepan Lid Kid He's only gone and had a Saucepan.
Septic Tank Yank Well, 'es a bloody Septic, inni?
Sky Rocket Pocket Me Skies are empty.
Steam Tug Do something stupid (Steam tug = Mug = Fool) He went steaming ahead and did it anyway.
Stoke-on-Trent Bent (criminal) He's totally Stoke.
Sweeney Todd Flying Squad (Police) Here come the Sweeney.
Syrup of Figs Wig Check out the Syrup on 'is head.
Tea Leaf Thief Watch it, he's a bloody Tea Leaf.
Tit for tat Hat Has anyone seen my Titfer?
Tom and Dick Sick He's feeling a bit Tom.
Tom Foolery Jewellery I gave me Trouble some Tom Foolery for Christmas.
Trouble and Strife Wife Just had a Barney with me Trouble.
Two and Eight State (of anguish) He's in a right old Two and Eight.
Uncle Dick Sick He's just been Uncle Dick over me new Whistle.
Vera Lynns Skins (tobacco paper) Pass the Veras, mate, and I'll roll up.
Weasel & Stoat Coat Pull on yer Weasel.
Whistle and Flute Suit I just got a new Whistle.

 



 


Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1389


<== previous page | next page ==>
Teenagers in east London are forming their own brand of English and pushing out traditional Cockney slang, according to language experts. | Comenius proposal 2014-2016
doclecture.net - lectures - 2014-2024 year. Copyright infringement or personal data (0.007 sec.)