Friday, January 16, 2009

Cockney what???

Cockney refers to the working class of London’s East End, traditionally those born within earshot of the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow Church in Cheapside. Cockney rhyming slang replaces the intended word with a rhyming couplet, only the first word of which is usually spoken. For example, the word “phone” would be replaced by the phrase “dog and bone,” but in conversation only the word “dog” would be said. This has the advantage of confusing the unitiated, making cockney slang ideal for those, like street traders, who wish to communicate in private.
Some other examples:

Adam and Eve…………Believe
Alan Whiskers…………Knickers
Apples and Pears…………Stairs
Aristotle (Harris) …………Bottle
Artful Dodger…………Lodger
Ascot Races…………Braces
Ball and Chalk…………Walk
Barnaby Rudge…………Judge
Barnet Fair…………Hair
Battlecruiser…………Boozer
Boat Race…………Face
Bob Hope…………Soap
Boracic Lint…………Skint
Brahms and Liszt…………Pissed
Brass Tacks…………Facts
Bread and Honey…………Money
Bricks and Mortar…………Daughter
Bristol City…………Titty
Brown Bread…………Dead
Butcher’s Hook…………Look
Chalfront St Giles…………Piles
Chalk Farm…………Arm
China Plate…………Mate
Cobbler’s Awls…………Balls
Cock and Hen…………Ten
Currant Bun…………Sun
Daisy Roots…………Boots
Darby and Joan…………Moan
Dicky Bird…………Word
Dicky Dirt…………Shirt
Dog and Bone…………Phone
Duke of Kent…………Rent
Dustbin Lid…………Kid
Frog and Toad…………Road
Gregory Peck…………Check
Hampton Wick…………Prick
Hank Marvin…………Starving
Jam Jar…………Car
Jimmy Riddle…………Piddle
Aunt Joanna…………Piano
Khyber Pass…………Ass
Kick and Prance…………Dance
Lady Godiva…………Fiver
Lionel Blairs…………Flares
Loaf of Bread…………Head
Mickey Bliss…………Piss
Mince Pies…………Eyes
Mork and Mindy…………Windy
Mutt and Jeff…………Deaf
North and South…………Mouth
Oily Rag…………Fag
Peckham Rye…………Tie
Pen and Ink…………Stink
Plates of Meat…………Feet
Pony and Trap…………Crap
Porky Pies…………Lies
Richard the 3rd…………Turd
Rosie Lee…………Tea
Rub-a-dub…………Pub
Skin and Blister…………Sister
Sky Rocket…………Pocket
Sweeney Todd…………Flying Squad
Syrup of Figs…………Wigs
Tea Leaf…………Thief
Tit for Tat…………Hat
Tom-foolery…………Jewelry
Trouble and Strife…………Wife
Whistle and Flute…………Suit

No comments:

Post a Comment