Hot on the heels of our success with our Top 100 Best British Slang Phrases, we thought we’d explore the beauty of Cockney Rhyming Slang next.
Rhyming slang is believed to have originated in the mid-19th century in the East End of London, with sources suggesting some time in the 1840s. It dates from around 1840 among the predominantly Cockney population of the East End of London who are well-known for having a characteristic accent and speech patterns.
It remains a matter of speculation whether rhyming slang was a linguistic accident, a game, or a cryptolect developed intentionally to confuse non-locals. If deliberate, it may also have been used to maintain a sense of community. It is possible that it was used in the marketplace to allow vendors to talk amongst themselves in order to facilitate collusion, without customers knowing what they were saying. Another suggestion is that it may have been used by criminals (see thieves’ cant) to confuse the police.
Whatever the origins – there are many fun turns of phrases and we’ve put together the Top 100 Words and Phrases that we could find for your reading pleasure.
Here’s an interesting lesson on the slang from locals in London:
Top 100 Cockney Rhyming Slang Words and Phrases:
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Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
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What I find funny is in my family we always used the phrase “Let’s get down to the brass tacks.” never realized where it might have come from.
Facts. Could be a reference to the seventies and eighties when a lot of people had brass tacks on their fireplaces or walls because it was the thing to have at the time.
I doubt it. Cockney rhyming slang is used literally because it rhymes, not for any other reason.
And long before the 70’s and 80’s
Brass tacks were used by vendors or purveyors of textile material. They used the tacks, set into the counter, measure the cloth to be bought. The purveyors were usually tailors.
Let’s get down to brass tacks was a way of saying to determine the facts.
I always thought shoes were “ones and twos” ????
surely the most popular is Porkies or Pork Pies for Lies…
We have changed it further to porky pines! If you have kids you will use this saying.
if you change it to “porky pines” then it no longer rhymes so it is no longer Cockney rhyming slang for “lies”
I have always known dogs to be cherries – thought it was “cherry hogs” but don’t know why. Anyone know.
cherry hogs always meant wogs
What about ‘it’s all gon Pete tong’ – wrong
I also use ‘your Avin a giraffe’
Actually, Gin is Needle as in needle and pin, long before Vera came along!!
They ain’t put “China” China plate.”mate in either
Or “j Arthur” haha j Arthur tank! Or “friar tuck” etc etc
I would use vera Lynn for skin as in rizla, Ebeneezer good, has anyone got any Veras.
I like porkies
Lovely Jubbly! nothing like a little cockney slang!
One of my favourites is Lester pigeon bigot
Lester pigeon bigot
One of my favourites is bigot- Lester piggot
If you read David Jason’s autobiography you will see the saying is lubberly jubbly
Never heard sherbert for cab. It means a beer in my neck of the woods (as in I’m going down the rub a dub dub for a sherbert) but no idea why.
Sherbert dab =cab you muppet
I think she meant no idea why sherbert meant beer. I think it’s derived more from Australian slang than cockney (although I know their roots are in the same place)
Leila, Sherbert Dip = Nip, which is a short drink of a spirit eg nip of gin/vodka. It shouldn’t really be used with beers but over time it has been used that way also
Cream Crackered – knackered
whats PETER (not sure of spelling) as in being in prison mean.?
Peter is prison because saint Peter is on the gates of heaven as the key holder
No you penis, it’s cells, as in Peter Sellars…
no its peter pan, as in the can….
how about Gregory? Gregory Peck neck!!
Irish Jig is wig! There are several wronguns in the list including Plates of meat being the correct term for feet and Ball o’ Chalk (abbreviated to Ballo) being the correct slang for walk. Muppet!
Syrup fig = fig
Syrup fig = wig
Ronald Macaulay has an interesting chapter in “The Social Art” (Oxford Press) on the practice of rhyming amongst Scottish children in counting out games. Thank you for this list. Quite interesting, although I doubt that they are exclusively cockney in origin.
Hmmmm. I don’t see a “translation” for Jayme Gibbs. Anyone know?
Jayme Gibs ( or how ever it is spelled ) is find
His Nibbs = him indoors
Rubbish bin lids… little kids? right?
no its dustbin lids for kids goes back to when there was a lot of dust from cold fires in the bins
Its dustbin lids for kids
Billy lids – Kids
Dogs eye – Pie
dead horse – sauce
Rocking horse ..sauce
Jockey whips chips
Bubble and Squeak – Greek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA5fCUc09iY
Mr. Bentley explains it to George Jefferson
‘Avin a Barclays = self-pleasure !
Barklays bank = wa?K
J Arthur Rank = wa?k (as above)
Scooby Doo = clue (as in he ain’t got a scooby)
Skin and blister = sister
Rock and roll = dole
Nelson Mandella = stella (2 nelsons please)
Didn’t see anyone translate the money
Godiva = fiver
score = £20
Pony = £25
ton = £100
monkey = £500
grand = £1000
Now I’m gonna ave a double double with liquor and lashings of non-brewed condiment.
Lovely jubbly
EiS
Richard the third = Turd
Haystack = Back
Eye lash = Slash (piss)
Birds nest = Chest
Tom tit I use always lol
How about “German Bands” for hands. I learned that from my British husband from Newcastle..
I heard germans on the sweeney, as Hans is a german name. Keep your filthy germans to yourself 🙂
Garden gate= number 8 Hilman hunter= Punter Richard the 3rd = Turd
Struggle n grunt, love that 1
You forgot Thruppnies…. or thruppney bits 😉
Not all the entries are Kosher(meaning real) many are local to an area but not in general use throughout the East End of London.Arf
Khyber Pass, Arse. Lord Lovel, Shovel. Baden Powell, Trowel or Towel.
Brahms and List
Had to chuckle that it’s OK to say shit as the answer to Tom Tit, but the answer to Bristol City = breasts, when it is obviously Titty! LOL!
Many Londoners just shorten the phrase to the first word as in Bristols. And daisies=daisy roots=boots.
That’s the whole point – you should only use the first word.
Yeh, I just didn’t know if the other commentors realized that.
My Mum was Cockney and we were brought up knowing all the rhyming slang. I agree you don’t use all the words usually just the first one. When we kept stalling to go to bed we were told” go on get up the apples.” To say apples and pears would have sounded strange and not necessary because children knew the whole phrase.
Nigel Benn -#10…
Chickens(dippers) or Yorkshires(rippers)- slippers.
Ian Beales-wheeles .
Swiss Navy- Gravy.
Rippers= kippers
Bin dippers = scoucers
With the great mutability of CRS the Khyber has recently morphed into the Mylene.
As in: ‘Stick it up yer Mylene (Klass)’
“Four by two” – Jew
“Brad Pitt” – shit
Arris = Arse. Aristotle = Bottle and Glass = Arse. Sorted.
I always say, ‘ahh it ain’t the may west’ meaning it ain’t the best!! And I’m from Dublin lol
A Mae West = Vest
roll and butter nutter
Turtle doves= gloves…. bark and growl= trowel… tilbury dock= cock… jack and danny= fanny…
Titfa = tit for tat = hat
Brittany Spears as in beers,Gregory Peck was always a Chq,mickey mouse as in Scouse,Sweaty Sock as in Jock,Lemonade as in Spade
So as an East Ender myself, I’d say Bottle and Glass was “class”. a term applied to boxers for their skill and bravery i.e. he’s got a lot of bottle. Or, someone who’s taken an easy way out would have “lost his bottle” ….
I never heard it’s use to describe an ars* …
You’re right mate, also it’s an Irish jig for wig, not Irish pig!
Aristotle=Bottle=Bottle and Glass= Ass. So as a cockney you just say Arris
And Plaster of Paris = Aris
I’ve got to go to the ” kermit” for a brad Pitt !
Any body heard of Stepney used in cockney slang
It’s where I live, it’s called StEpney
Sherman tank or barclays bank were also left out!
Also Levy & Frank and Jodrel Bank
Being a 40 summit East Ender who’s dad, grandad, great grandad, etc, get the picture, were all born, Hoxton, Bethnal Green, Bow …. I got to say there are so many errors here and im sure some of these are just made up …. Trevor is right Bottle & Glass means Class … it’s Khyber Pass for Arse …. My Nan always called us kids Saucepan Lids and the reference to Sherbert, (learnt this at an early age, thanks grandad) back in the day you could buy a penny bag of sherbert that kids put with water to make a fizzy drink, Sherbert not actual slang was used for beer as beer being fizzy to, it also was used as a code word for having a crafty beer, so this misses, mother, girlfriend didnt find out.
You are dead to rights, most of the above so called cockney is really eastury slang made up as they go along, by posers. If they came up against a real geezer from the east end they would be lost for words. ie, Tables & Chairs “Mmm” the real McCoy, Is Apples & Pairs.= Stairs and like most of the real thing in speach you drop a word there for “Stairs” are known as Apples. So I said night to me trouble, nipped up the apples, took off me daises then on me uncle ned, put me head on the weeping willow and went a Bo peep,
Derek, I love it, thanks
Bottle n Glass for class or courage makes sense. But I think a lot are corruptions of the original phrases. I always understood a Scotch to be a Gold Watch, probably due to it being a more expensive drink that only gentry, or persons with gold watches would buy, plus possibly it’s colour. Also Potato Mould = Cold was left out as in “It’s a bit taitters today”
Brassic lint = skint
It’s Borassic Lint = Skint,me old china
berkhampstead hunt
I think you’ll find it’s Berkshire Hunt. as in you call someone “a berk”
It is Berkshire Hunt and the original meaning is very rude though berk is considered a mild term now.
China,/ China Plate,/ Mate or Tuppeny?,Tuppeny Loaf/, Bread,/Head
Oily rag- fag
I had a geezer come up to me in a pub once and asked me if i
was interested in buying a “kettle” it is of course a watch, from “kettle and hob” meaning
“fob” as in fob watch!
The whole point of Rhyming Slang is that you don’t say the whole thing, those that do
are usually “outsiders” and are just playing at it…..
I was born in the East End of London 73 years ago. I’ve used rhyming slang all my life.Your right John you only use the first part of the saying.This makes it harder for outsiders to understand.Cockney slang was made up by East Enders but now everybody from everywhere is dabbling in it. I still stick to the original slang and not use any of this new stuff.
One I’v only ever heard once from a work mate from Walthamstow was Ice Cream for ice cream freezer = geezer.
Hank Marvin for starving ? Yer ‘aving a larf ! ‘Orrible modern term from a tv ad
The one that make me laugh is: I’m gonna hang tenner = going for a piss
Iron hoof = poof
Tin bath = laugh
ginger beer (ginger) …. queer
Im from East London Hackney marshes but i had to move down to shitty Cornwall with a Hampton whick Conner Mclaren whos from Scotland what a Brad Pitt hole lol
your mum = fun
Only like the old original ones. D’oyly Carte FART
Big cat pig cat
Scary flow were we go
Front wheel skid… yid
George Raft .. draft
Did not see one for Turd
Richard the 3rd
We always used Bag of fruit – suit ( not whistle & flute)
I guess thats from down under
Shovels as in prison …?
Shovel and pick Nick
Terry McCan on Minder, referred to his home as his ‘DRUM’, anyone know why? How about a ‘quick J. Arthur’ for self pleasure?
Drum roll = hole (a basic place to live!)
24 is WRONG!!!
Not Bristol City……it’s Bristol Tips (cigarette) = Tits
“Nice Bristols!”
Sorry your wrong thrupenny bits =Tits
My whole family are cockney and I always remember my Dad saying “look at the Bristols on that”. Some of these on here though are a load of old bollocks!!
Wrong! Bristol City’s= titties.
up your ‘arris came from aristotle= bottle =bottle and glass=ass
my current fave is to have a few Ednas =Edna Everage=beverage
Rodger a Northener
Queens Park Ranger- Stranger.
Bag for life- Wife.
Stoke on Trent- Bent.
Roast Joint- Pint.
Donald Trump- Dump.
Barry White- Shite.
Garden Gate- Mate.
Alan Duke- Puke.
Joe Cuddy- Buddy.
Bag of sand- Grand.
Some Dublinesse slang!
Zulus…………….Ears………..Zulu Spears
what does the term bunny rabbit mean for talking a lot where does it come from
rabbit and pork talk
I’m born and bred in London and very proud of it my parents are Irish and the Channel Islands I remember being very confused when we went down the market but sadly the cockney accent seems to be moving more to outside London. To me there is some mistakes in the list but end of the day cockney slang has evolved with the city it was made famous by
what happened to 58 ??? lol Also,I use Solomon’s (Solomon Grundy-undies ! )…………..as an aside,we use a lot of these expressions up in Yorkshire so we can follow your lingo without too much bother nowadays ! lol
Where does “Bobs your farting tackle” come from?
I think an outsider (Me lol) would have to study lots of it to work out what the original cockney rhymes are. Then they would have the trouble of remembering it all to get through a cockney rhyming conversation, as you only use the 1st word. ?? I love the cockney slang, it’s brilliant. ??
“Irish Pig”??? Surely you mean “Irish JIG”?
How can you use celebrities names in your old london rhyming slangwords when some of them were not even born yet in old london
There is an episode of minder where Arthur says to Terry…”Have you got a Richard in there?” Obviously meaning a bird. (and as he says it she appears) Is this the real meaning? Richard 3rd =Bird rather than turd? (or is it the scriptwriters getting it wrong!)
Richard III does mean Bird (this also prompted the phrase “Dicky Bird” (Dick being a short version of Richard), but this is of course not rhyming slang.
I really like Hank Marvin! I’ve learn it from my British friend
Raspberry ripple – cripple (as in ‘beat up’)
Trouble and strife – wife
Haddock and bloater – motor (car)
Cockney rhyming slang was first used to disguise what you wanted to say to avoid the police. Also, Cherry ‘Hogs – was used iif you were going to the dogs, as in Dog racing.
‘orse’s rump – Donald Trump
anyone knows whot means poop? An old geezer in essex keeps callin me poop but i didn’t understand whot he meant
I have a piece of commemorative china, dated 1911 for the coronation of George V. It’s in the shape of a duck, and it was made by the Shelley China Co, a very upscale UK pottery. On the side is written: ‘A real prize Aylesbury Duck’. Bearing in mind the translation for ‘Aylesbury Duck’, was this some sort of gag gift? Or am I reading something into it that’s not there?
Made me smile, anyway……;-)
My ol dad always used the tom tit slang I remember as a kid, he wasn’t a cockney though coming from Hendon. I don’t thin proper cockneys use rhymning slang as much as we think!
Gawd forbids …..Kids
Jack the Rippers…slippers
I suppose….Nose
Uncle Ned…..Bed
J Arfur…Wank
Jam Jar…..Car
I’m a third generation cockney and half of these are just made up modern words that can’t be true Cockney rhyming slang as the celebrities they’re referring to weren’t even born, let alone famous in old London where the cockneys lived. People who think they’re using rhyming slang make me laugh as they’re just talking bollocks and using any word that they can think of to rhyme and not getting the point that people weren’t supposed to understand what you were saying or it defeats the object of using it
Totally agree with you Dave!
It’s true what you say about modern slang, but it don;t matter! It evolves.
Gotta be good that people still enjoy CRS even if it is made up.
Also the old East End is now dying as more n more toffs move in, so it helps to keep CRS alive.
Just reading this link and explaining to my lovely Portuguese lady the concept of the original Cockney Ryhming Slang, I was born in Mile End in the 60’s and couldn’t agree more that most of the above is a load of bollocks.
Too many ‘Mockneys’ clearly commenting on here as they wouldn’t know a real Cockney saying if it bit them on the arse.
Anyone who used these terms back in the day knows you never used the second part of the slang…..’you having a Bubble ‘ ( bath wouldn’t be mentioned as any other cockney would know what it meant )
The of course you have ‘ Bubble and Squeak which sometimes you needed to use to differentiate between ‘laugh and ‘Greek
The new Mockney sayings stated above are indeed bollocks.
Instead of asking the time of day, “what’s the time”, my father always said, “what’s the Harry Lime.” He emigrated from Leicester England to the USA in 1957, but I always assumed this was a known cockney phrase he learned when working in London.
What is the definition for Porky Pies ??
Can anyone tell me what a cup of Milo is please? I read it in a book set in 1970’s London. Thanks.