Rhyming Slang
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64361)
United Kingdom
February 21, 2017 9:30am CST
Throughout our married life my husband has used various expressions that I didn't realise had their roots in Cockney rhyming slang. Though he's not a Cockney himself (someone born within the sound of Bow Bells in the East End of London) he mixed with a lot of them in his youth.
So he would have a dig in the grave (shave) every day, would spend a lot of time on the eau-de-cologne (phone), and in restaurants he would ask the hot potater (waiter) to bring the Jack and Jill (the bill).
Rhyming slang was developed because the Cockneys didn't want strangers to understand what they were saying. It's a collection of phrases that replace certain words. The last word of the phrase has to rhyme with the real word, so for instance feet become 'plates of meat', lies become 'pork pies', and stairs become 'apples and pears'.
See if you can decipher the following:
A man donned his whistle and flute and daisy roots, then said to his trouble and strife, ''I want to go to the rub-a-dub down the frog and toad, but I'm boracic lint. Have you got any bees and honey, a cockle and hen will do?''
Translation (A man donned his suit and boots, then said to his wife, ''I want to go to the pub down the road, but I'm skint. Have you got any money, a ten (£10) will do?.'')
She replied '' Not likely - the last time you went you got on the River Ouse with your china plates, came home Brahms and Listz and feeling port and brandy, then fell on your Khyber Pass!''
Translation (She replied ''Not likely - the last time you went you got on the booze with your mates, came home pissed and feeling randy, then fell on your ass!'')
Did you have a scooby-doo - a clue?
So while the rhyming slang is not exactly a language, it does tend to confuse non-cockneys.
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@bluesa and I were chatting about language and she mentioned that she loved the Cockney rhyming slang. I said I'd written an article about it on the B site, but would re-write it. So here it is.
49 people like this
45 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
21 Feb 17
Naturally I am quite familiar with Cockney rhyming slang, but a couple of those seem wrong. I have always known Jack and Jill to be Till and Phone is usually Dog and Bone.
As far as I know it was begun so that the plain clothes police would not understand if they overheard plans for robberies etcetera.
6 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
21 Feb 17
@Asylum I think there can be more than one phrase for certain words - the two you mention are definitely known the way I said them, but I've heard of 'dog and bone' used. Not the 'till' though.
Regarding your second point, the police would come under the umbrella of 'strangers'
3 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
22 Feb 17
@Beatburn Unless they are true cockneys (were born within the sound of Bow Bells, they won't be able to enlighten you very much.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
21 Feb 17
good one janet... I did manage to understand it all... it will be interesting to see how other folks managed...
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
21 Feb 17
@sueznewz2 Sue, if you get time look at the sketch that @pgntwo attached to his response. It's hilarious.
2 people like this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
22 Feb 17
@jaboUK thanks janet... it was funny I've not seen that before
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
21 Feb 17
Very well done. . Reminds me of this classic sketch, although I suspect a touch of poetic licence...
The Two Ronnies Series Five (1976) I know that this has been posted elsewhere, but I couldn't resist posting my favourite Two Ronnies sketch.
5 people like this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
22 Feb 17
that clip is so funny.. ive not seen it before....
2 people like this
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
21 Feb 17
I've always found in hard to follow the conversations in British films because we use American English here in the Philippines. Is the cockney accent the hardest to understand among the other regional accents in Britain? Can Cockneys speak ordinary English without resorting to the rhyming slang?
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
21 Feb 17
@josie_ It is sometimes difficult for other Brits to understand them, depending where they come from. Personally I find the Scots' accent the most difficult.
Yes, the cockneys can speak ordinary English very well - the slang is just an embellishment.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
22 Feb 17
I have always liked your chimes and specially those kicks 
2 people like this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
22 Feb 17
@jaboUK Something attempted something done. Thanks. That sounds perfect. Are they that bad?
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 17
@allknowing Lol - to be honest they're not good! Nice of you to try though
you to try though1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 17
@allknowing Lol - I'm not sure if they have phrases for those, but they are always more words than original word. So you haven't quite got the hang of it. It would be more like 'bells and chimes' ( for rhymes) and 'slaps and kicks' for limericks. But I can't see cockneys discussing limericks, so I doubt they'd have a term for it.
. It would be more like 'bells and chimes' ( for rhymes) and 'slaps and kicks' for limericks. But I can't see cockneys discussing limericks, so I doubt they'd have a term for it.1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38657)
• Midland, Michigan
22 Feb 17
I think I'd need to hang with the guys for weeks and weeks to even begin to remember all the slang used. I didn't have any scooby-doo, no how no way. Although I could probably make something up to translate into that type of slang, but won't take the time right now.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 17
@MarshaMusselman It's something that can't be learnt too quickly, but the more you hear it the easier it becomes.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 17
@MarshaMusselman No, I've never heard of pig latin. Please give me some examples (unless you want to write a post about it?)
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38657)
• Midland, Michigan
22 Feb 17
@jaboUK I doubt I'll be hearing it much around here. Do kids there talk in pig latin? That's something most kids here learn early, although not too many keep it up unless children are near that may not keep up with the lingo.If you've never heard it, I'll write some for you.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246838)
• United States
21 Feb 17
I still get confused by normal British words! Jumper is our sweater. Here a jumper is a sleeveless dress with room for a blouse under it. Boot is our car trunk. A boot is something that we put on each foot to protect them from rain or snow. I have heard the cockney accent in London and didn't understand one word!
2 people like this
@asfarasiknow (3341)
• Bournemouth, England
22 Feb 17
I got nearly all of them but then I'm a Brit. I've always loved the way these things take longer to say than the original word (I also love the way the French need three syllables to shout "help!")
Some of the free channels have been repeating episodes of 'Steptoe and Son' and I was amazed at the Cockney slang for a woman that the writers managed to get into an early-70s episode, presumably right under the noses of unsuspecting BBC bosses!
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 17
@asfarasiknow Now you've intrigued me as to what that slang for a woman could be! And that's amusing about the French 'aide moi' - sorry I can't put the accent on the 'e'.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 17
@asfarasiknow I think that must be something like 'grope and fumble'?
Or 'tumble'? Am I close? My husband's gone to bed so I can't ask him at the moment.
Or 'tumble'? Am I close? My husband's gone to bed so I can't ask him at the moment.1 person likes this
@asfarasiknow (3341)
• Bournemouth, England
22 Feb 17
@jaboUK I was thinking 'au secours' for the French.
Now here's the tricky bit - and I really have lowered the tone of the conversation.. I can't go into too many details for fear of getting me/us deleted/banned but perhaps your husband can explain the Cockney rhymng slang 'grumble'... In the episode Harold was telling a psychiatrist who questioned his sexuality that he'd had more 'grumble' than the doctor had had hot dinners.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
23 Feb 17
HHmm, I couldn't understand a bit of the conversation my friend. Good to know you had it translated in normal language. 
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
23 Feb 17
@ridingbet Yes, it's really confusing, isn't it?
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
23 Feb 17
@jaboUK yes it is. especially if the speaker has that twang or accent that we, non-native English speakers cannot fully comprehend. it might be taken figuratively or colloquially.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
21 Feb 17
I like that too, I would love to do that here in the USA but they would have me in a straight jacket before the days end.
3 people like this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
23 Feb 17
Love these and they can be quite clever as well! And I can imagine a whole conversation with these could be confusing but they are always fun!
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
23 Feb 17
@MarymargII You've put it in a nutshell - confusing but fun!
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
24 Feb 17
@MarymargII Apparerntly they do - someone has put a link about that in one of the responses here.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
24 Feb 17
@jaboUK Am I wrong to say the Aussies do that a bit too?
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
22 Feb 17
My father lived in London, he thought he was a cockney but his birth certificate said otherwise. He didn't use cockney slang so much but he could speak what he called 'backchat' or maybe it was backtalk. Not sure exactly what that was except that it was confusing. I wonder if anyone else has heard of this.
2 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
22 Feb 17
@jaboUK There was a system to it, using the first or last letter and moving it on to the next word. I should try to find out more.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 17
@41CombedaleRoad To me 'backchat' is just repartee, but perhaps your dad said things the wrong way round?
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
22 Feb 17
Well, those with the Cockney accent have nothing to fear from me! They could speak plain english and I'd still be scratching my head. Though I do find the accent alluring.
As for everything you've said above, the only thing that "grabbed" me was "pork pies". We don't hear it as often here in the US, but "porky pies" has always meant "lies" to me.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum That's interesting that you are familiar with 'porky pies' (which is often shortened to just 'porkies'), and I doubt that you were aware that it originated with the Cockneys?
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
22 Feb 17
@jaboUK No, I was not aware of that until today.
I am trying to rack my brain as to where I first heard it. It might have been something that came over in way of television...
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 17
@bluesa Thanks for giving me the push to re-create this Catherine. Of course the cockneys often take this a bit further by leaving the actual rhyming part off. Thus pork pies become 'porkies', and a mate is just a 'china'. I didn't mention this in the post as i think I confused people enough already! So there you have it, me ol' china!
1 person likes this
@nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
22 Feb 17
Did not get any scooby doo how are they able to communicate like that? Amazing that they understand each other. Takes a lot of practice I guess.
how are they able to communicate like that? Amazing that they understand each other. Takes a lot of practice I guess.2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 17
@nottoooldtowrite They understand it because it's in everyday use, so it comes naturally to them.
1 person likes this
@nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
22 Feb 17
@jaboUK oh yes, takes getting used to. Cool 
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 17
@Jeanniemaries Once you get the idea of the rhyming, there are quite a few terms that are guessable
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