Welcome, dear readers, to the delightful and often perplexing realm of Cockney Rhyming Slang. If you've ever wandered the vibrant streets of London's East End or lost yourself in the winding alleys of Cockney culture, you might have encountered this peculiar form of speech. But fear not, for today, we're diving headfirst into the entertaining, eccentric, and utterly unique world of Cockney Rhyming Slang.
Before we dive into the intricacies of Cockney Rhyming Slang, let's journey back in time to understand its origins. The heart of Cockney culture lies in London's East End, historically known for its working-class communities and colourful characters. The term "Cockney" originally referred to those born within the sound of the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow church, a rather specific and narrow geographical area in London. Today, it's used more broadly to describe Londoners from the East End with a distinctive accent and culture.
Cockney Rhyming Slang is believed to have emerged in the 19th century as a form of secret code among these tight-knit communities. The idea was simple but brilliant: create a system of speech where words or phrases are replaced by others that rhyme with the intended word. The purpose? To confound outsiders, such as the police or strangers, who couldn't decipher this linguistic riddle. Over time, this playful form of communication evolved into a celebrated part of East End identity and culture.
Now, you might be wondering what it sounds like when a Cockney speaker unleashes a barrage of rhyming slang. Let's take an example: "trouble and strife." In the world of Cockney, this means "wife." The clever part is that you rarely hear the second word (in this case, "strife"). So, you might hear a sentence like, "The trouble's upset with me," and be utterly baffled unless you're in on the secret.
Let's see if you can guess what these phrases mean. The answers will be at the bottom of the page. These phrases can sound like gibberish to the uninitiated, but they're all part of the linguistic tapestry that is Cockney Rhyming Slang.
Apples and Pears
Butcher’s hook
Dog and bone
Mince pies
Porky pie
Barney Rubble
Boat Race
Brass Tacks
Brown Bread
Dicky bird
Dicky Dirt
Frog and Toad
Hank Marvin
Jimmy Riddle
Plates of meat
Rosy Lee
Tea leaf
Trouble and strife
Adam and Eve
Now, you might think that Cockney Rhyming Slang is a dying art, a relic of the past, but you'd be mistaken. It continues to be an integral part of East End culture, even as London evolves and changes. While fewer people speak it fluently today, many words and phrases have permeated British English.
Cockney Rhyming Slang is like a time capsule, preserving bits of history, tradition, and humour. So, next time you're in London's East End and a friendly local asks if you fancy a "butcher's," don't worry, they're not offering you a meat market tour but a peek into one of London's most enduring and entertaining linguistic traditions. So, have a "butcher's" at the answers to the phrases below and take a moment to appreciate the colourful world of Cockney Rhyming Slang!
Extra practice
Once upon a time in the heart of London's East End, there lived a cheeky Cockney named Tommy. Tommy had a penchant for telling tails, often serving up a delightful dish of porky pies to his mates. One sunny afternoon, he was sitting in his cosy living room, sipping a cup of rosy Lee, and staring at his telly. His trouble and strife, a lovely woman named Lucy, was busy in the kitchen, rustling up a delicious meal.
Tommy decided to pop outside for some fresh air. With a mischievous glint in his mince pies, he gave Lucy a kiss on the boat race and told her, "I'll be back in a jiffy, love. Just need to exercise my plates of meat."
As Tommy strolled down the frog and toad and into the bustling streets, he couldn't help but notice a group of children playing near the market on the apple and pairs. They were having a right old giggle, and it put a big smile on his boat race. But then he overheard something that got him thinking about brass tacks.
One of the kids pointed at a man who was sneaking around the corner with a bag of swag. "Look, it's a tea leaf!" The others laughed and Tommy realised that he couldn't let that slide.
Determined to keep his manor safe, Tommy followed the tea leaf who was wearing a bright blue dicky dirt, like a seasoned detective. He tracked him down a dark alley, peeking around a corner to have a butcher's hook. He couldn't Adam and Eve it when he saw the tea leaf having a Jimmy riddle in the street.
Tommy knew he needed to take action. He whipped out his dog and bone and dialled Lucy's number to alert her to the situation. "Lucy, love, you won't believe it. I've found a tea leaf!" he explained, his voice filled with urgency.
Lucy didn't waste a second. She called the police and said "I need to have a dicky bird with the detective, I have some information on the thief" while Tommy kept an eye on the ne'er-do-well, providing a running commentary on the blower. Within minutes, the boys in blue arrived on the scene, and the tea leaf found himself in a whole heap of Barney Rubble.
Tommy returned home, feeling a sense of pride. He had prevented a crime in his manor, and he knew he had done the right thing. Lucy greeted him with a big hug and a cup of Rosy Lee, Tommy said he was Hank Marvin after all the excitement and they had the meal Lucy had been making. That night he slept so well he might as well have been Brown Bread he was so tired.
What did they mean
Apples and Pears - Stairs
Butcher’s hook - Look
Dog and bone - Phone
Mince pies - Eyes
Porky pie - Lie
Barney Rubble - Trouble
Boat Race - Face
Brass Tacks - Facts
Brown Bread - Dead
Dicky bird - Word
Dicky Dirt - Shirt
Frog and Toad - Road
Hank Marvin - Starvin'
Jimmy Riddle - Piddle
Plates of meat - Feet
Rosy Lee - Tea
Tea leaf - Thief
Trouble and strife - Wife
Adam and Eve - Believe
You can now listen to this article as a podcast just click here
If you find this practice useful please consider supporting the author from just £1 per month here