Cockney Rhyming Slang
Cockney rhyming slang is a type of slang that originated in the East End of London, England, in the 19th century. It involves using a phrase and the last word rhymes with the word which it means.
With some of the most commonly used terms, the rhyming word is often dropped, leaving just the first word of the phrase, which then becomes a substitute for the original word.
Its exact origin isn’t entirely clear, but it is believed to have emerged in the late 19th century in the working-class neighbourhoods of London, particularly among costermongers (street traders) and market sellers.
One theory is that it was created as a way for people to communicate without others understanding them, including the police. The slang’s complexity and the use of rhyming words made it difficult for outsiders to decipher. This would have been particularly useful for criminals who wanted to discuss illegal activities without being caught.
However, this theory is debated among scholars, and there are other suggested origins of the slang as well. It’s possible that Cockney rhyming slang evolved as a way for people in the same community to communicate more efficiently, with less need for explanation or repetition.
Regardless of its exact origins, Cockney rhyming slang has become an important part of British culture and language, with many of its phrases having entered common usage outside of the original Cockney communities.
In this blog post we give each Cockney Rhyming Slang with examples, so you’ll be able to learn them and start speaking like a Londoner in no time at all. Now with that said, Let’s have a butcher’s!
A. Cockney Rhyming Slang Beginning with A
Adam and Eve: Cockney rhyming slang for “believe”. As in “Would you Adam and Eve it?” meaning “Would you believe it?”.
Almond Rocks: Slang for “socks”. as in “Have you seen my almond rocks?” meaning “Have you seen my socks?”
Apples and Pears: Cockney rhyming slang for “stairs”. As in “Where’s James? He’s up the apples and pears.” meaning “He’s up the stairs.”
Aristotle – usually shortened to Aris: Slang for “bottle”. As in: “Where’s my Aris?” meaning “Where’s my bottle?”
Artful Dodger: A character in Charles Dickens’ novel “Oliver Twist”. Cockney rhyming slang for “lodger”. As in “My landlord has got a new Artful Dodger.” meaning “My landlord has got a new lodger.”
Ascot Races: Cockney rhyming slang for “braces”, as in the type of suspenders worn to hold up trousers. An example, “Do you like my new Ascot Races?” meaning “Do you like my new braces?”
B. Cockney Rhyming Slang Beginning with B
Baker’s Dozen: Refers to thirteen of something, but in Cockney rhyming slang it means “cousin”. As in “James is my baker’s Dozen.” meaning “James is my cousin.”
Ball and Chalk: Slang for “walk”. As in “I’m going out for a ball and chalk.” meaning “Im going out for a walk.”
Barnaby Rudge: Cockney rhyming slang for “judge”. As in I wonder who the Barnaby Judge will be for my court case.” meaning “I wonder who the judge will be for my court case.”
Barnet Fair – usually shortened to Barnet: A British rhyming slang for “hair”. As in “I’m getting my Barnet cut tomorrow.” meaning “I’m getting my hair cut tomorrow.”
Berkshire Hunt: Cockney rhyming slang for “c*nt”. As in “You’re a right Berkshire Hunt, you are!” meaning “You’re a right c*nt, you are!”
Boat Race – usually shortened to Boat: British rhyming slang for “face”. As in “She’s got a beautiful boat race.” meaning “She’s got a beautiful face.”
Bob Hope: Slang for “soap” or “dope”. As in “Have you got some Bob Hope?” meaning “Have you got some soap/dope?”
Brahms and Liszt usually shortened to Brahms: Derived from “Brahms and Liszt”, the classical composers, it’s Cockney rhyming slang for “pissed” which means “drunk” in British slang. As in “He can’t drive home, he’s Brahms and Liszt!” meaning “He can’t drive home, he’s drunk!”
Bread and Money: Cockney Rhyming Slang for “money”. As in “I haven’t got any bread and honey left.” meaning “I haven’t got any money left.”
Bricks and Mortar: Slang for “daughter”. As in “Sarah is Tony’s bricks and mortar.” meaning “Sarah is Tony’s daughter.”
Bristol Cities – usually shortened to Bristols: Cockney rhyming slang for “titties”, as in women’s breasts. An example, “She’s got a nice pair of Bristols.” meaning “She’s got a nice pair of titties.”
Brown Bread: British rhyming slang for “dead”. As in “Pete is brown bread.” meaning “Pete is dead.”
Bubble and Squeak – usually shortened to Bubble: Cockney rhyming slang for a “Greek” person. As in “Andreas is a Bubble and Squeak.” meaning Andreas is a Greek person.”
Butcher’s Hook – usually shorted to Butcher’s: Cockney rhyming slang for “look”. As in “Let’s have a butcher’s.” meaning “Let’s have a look.”
C. Cockney Rhyming Slang Beginning with C
Chalk Farm: Slang for “arm”. As in “I’ve hurt my chalk farm.” meaning “I’ve hurt my arm.”
China Plate – usually shortened to China: Cockney rhyming slang for “mate”. As in “how’s my old China doing?” meaning “How’s my old mate doing?”
Cobblers’ Awls – usually shortened to Cobblers: British rhyming slang for “balls” or “bollocks”, but meaning nonsense. As in “Stop talking Cobblers.” meaning “Stop talking nonsense.”
Cock and Hen: Slang for “ten”.
Coral Reef: Cockney rhyming slang for “teeth”. As in “I brush my coral reef twice a day.” meaning “I brush my teeth twice a day.”
Cream Crackered – usually shortened to Creamed: Cockney rhyming slang for “knackered” meaning “exhausted”. As in “I’m absolutely creamed.” meaning “I’m absolutely exhausted.”
Currant Bun: Slang for “sun” or “The Sun” newspaper. As in “That currant bun’s hot today.” meaning “That sun’s hot today.”
D. Cockney Rhyming Slang Beginning with D
Daisy Roots – usually shortened to Daisies: Rhyming slang for “boots”. As in “Do you like my new daisies?” meaning “Do you like my new boots?”
Darby and Joan: Cockney rhyming slang for “moan”. As in “John likes a good Darby and Joan.” meaning “John likes a good moan.”
Dicky Dirt – usually shortened to Dicky: Cockney rhyming slang for “shirt”. “I need to iron my Dicky Dirt.” meaning “I need to iron my shirt.”
Dickie Bird – usually shortened to Dickie: Cockney rhyming slang for “word”. As in “Have a Dickie with yourself.” meaning “Have a word with yourself.”
Dog and Bone – usually shortened to Dog: Cockney rhyming slang for “phone”. As in “Have you seen my dog?” meaning “Have you seen my phone?”
Duck and Dive: Slang for “skive” meaning to avoid work or responsibility. As in “He’s ducking and diving again.” meaning “He’s skiving again.”
Ducks and Geese: Slang for “Police”. As in “Hurry up, the ducks and geese are coming.” meaning “Hurry up, the police are coming.”
Duke of Kent: Cockney rhyming slang for “rent”. As in “I haven’t got enough money for my Duke of Kent.” meaning “I haven’t got enough money for my rent.”
Dukes of York – usually shortened to Dukes: Cockney rhyming slang for “forks”, which is slang for “hands or fists”. As in “Put your Dukes up.” meaning “Put your fists up.”
Dustbin Lid: Cockney rhyming slang for “kid”. As in “Emma has finally had her first dustbin lid.” meaning “Emma has finally had her first kid.”
E-G. Cockney Rhyming Slang Beginning with E, F and G
Emma Freuds – usually shortened to Emmas: Cockney rhyming slang for “haemorrhoids”. As in “I got hold of some cream for my Emmas.” meaning “I got hold of some cream for my haemorrhoids.”
Farmer Giles – usually shortened to Farmers: Cockney rhyming slang for “piles” or “haemorrhoids”. “I got hold of some cream for my Farmer Giles.” meaning “I got hold of some cream for my piles.”
Flowery Dell: Slang for “cell”, especially a prison cell. As in “Right boys, get back in your flowery dells.” meaning “Right boys, get back in your cells.”
Frog and Toad – usually shortened to frog: Cockney rhyming slang for “road”. As in “Be careful when you cross the frog and toad.” meaning “Be careful when you cross the road.”
George Raft: Cockney rhyming slang for “draught”. As in “There’s a right George Raft coming through that door.” meaning “There’s a right draught coming through that door.”
Ginger Beer – usually shortened to Ginger: Cockney rhyming slang for “queer” or “gay person. As in “I didn’t know Pete was a ginger.” meaning “I didn’t know Pete was gay.”
Gregory Peck – usually shortened to Gregory: Cockney rhyming slang for “neck” or “cheque (check in American English)”. As in “I finally got my Gregory Peck.” meaning “I finally got my check.”
Gypsy’s Kiss – usually shortened to Gypsy’s: Cockney rhyming slang for “piss” which is slang for “urinate”. As in “I’m just going for a gypsy’s.” meaning “I’m just going to the toilet for a pee.”
H-J. Cockney Rhyming Slang Beginning with H, I, and J
Hampstead Heath – usually shortened to Hampsteads: Cockney rhyming slang for “teeth”. As in “I got my Hampsteads polished today.” meaning “I got my teeth polished today.”
Hampton Wick: Cockney rhyming slang for “prick” which is slang for either “idiot” or “penis”. As in “He’s a right Hampton Wick.” meaning “He’s a right prick,”
Half-inch: Slang for “pinch”, meaning “steal”. As in “My bike has been half-inched.” meaning “My bike has been stolen.”
I suppose: Cockney rhyming slang for “nose”. As in “Look at the size of his I suppose.” meaning “Look at the size of his nose.”
Jack Jones – usually shortened to Jack: Cockney rhyming slang for “alone”. As in “I’m on my Jack.” meaning “I’m on my own.”
Jam Jar: Cockney rhyming slang for “car”. As in “Do you like my new jam jar/” meaning “Do you like my new car?”
Jam Tart: Slang for “heart”. As in “Oh! My jam tart just missed a beat.” meaning “Oh! My heart just missed a beat.”
J. Arthur Rank – usually shortened to J. Arthur: Cockney rhyming slang for “wank” meaning “masturbate”. As in “I’ve just seen him having a J. Arthur.” menaing “I’ve just seen him masturbate.”
Jimmy Riddle – usually shortened to Jimmy: Cockney rhyming slang for “piddle” meaning “urinate”. As in “I’m just going for a Jimmy.” meaning “I’m just going to urinate.”
Johnny Giles – Cockney Rhyming Slang for “piles”. As in “I got some cream for my Johnny Giles.” meaning “I got some cream for my piles.”
Jugs of Beer – usually shortened to Jugs: Cockney rhyming slang for “ears”. As in “Look at his jugs.” meaning “Look at his ears.”
K-N. Cockney Rhyming Slang Beginning with K, L, M and N
Khyber Pass – usually shortened to Kyber: Cockney rhyming slang for “arse”. As in “She has a beautiful Khyber.” meaning “She has a beautiful arse.”
Kick and Prance: Slang for “dance”. As in “Fancy a kick and prance?” meaning “Would you like to dance?”
Lady Godiva: Cockney rhyming slang for “fiver”, meaning a five-pound note. As in “Can you lend me a Lady Godiva?” meaning “Can you lend me five pounds?”
Lionel Blairs – usually shortened to Lionels: Cockney rhyming slang for “flares” as in flared trousers. “Look at his Lionels” meaning “Look at his flared trousers.”
Loaf of Bread – usually shortened to Loaf: Cockney rhyming slang for “head” implied as “intelligence”. As in “Use your loaf.” meaning “Use your head.”
Lucy Lockett – usually shortened to Lucy: Slang for “pocket”. As in “Put that money back in your Lucy Lockett.” meaning “Put your money back in your pocket.”
Mickey Bliss – usually shorted to Mickey: Rhyming slang for “piss”, which is slang for “making a joke” of someone. As in “Stop taking the Mickey out of me.” meaning “Stop making fun of me.”
Mince Pies: Cockney rhyming slang for “eyes”. As in “Her mince pies are beautiful.” meaning “She has beautiful eyes.”
Michael Winner: Slang for “dinner”. As in “It’s time for some Michael Winner.” meaning “It’s time for dinner.”
Mutton and Jeff: Cockney rhyming slang for “deaf”. As in “I didn’t know he was Mutton and jeff.” meaning “I didn’t know he was deaf.”
Nobby Stiles: Cockney rhyming slang for “piles” or “haemorrhoids”. As in “Mark’s got Nobby Stiles.” meaning “Mark has been diagnosed with haemorrhoids.”
North and South: Cockney rhyming slang for “mouth”. As in “Shut your big north and south.” meaning “Shut your big mouth.”
O-R. Cockney Rhyming Slang Beginning with O, P and R
Oily Rag: Slang for “fag” meaning “cigarette”. As in “Have you got a spare oily rag?” meaning “Can I take a cigarette?”
Ones and Twos: Slang for “shoes”. As in “My mum bought me some new ones and twos.” meaning “My mum bought me some new shoes.”
Orchestras Stalls – usually shortened to Orchestras: Cockney rhyming slang for “balls” or “testicles”. As in “Nobody enjoys being kicked in the orchestras.” meaning “Nobody enjoys being kicked in the testicles.”
Pen and Ink: Cockney Rhyming Slang for “stink”. As in “What’s that pen and ink?” meaning “What’s that stink?”
Plates of Meat – usually shortened to Plates: Cockney rhyming slang for “feet”. As in “My plates are freezing.” meaning “My feet are freezing.”
Pony and Trap – usually shortened to Pony: Cockney rhyming slang for “crap” implied to mean “nonsense”. As in “He’s talking pony.” meaning “He’s talking nonsense.”
Porky Pies – usually shortened to Porkies: Cockney rhyming slang for “lies”. As in “He’s telling porkies!” meaning “He’s lying.”
Potatoes in the Mould – usually shortened to Taters: Cockney rhyming slang for “cold”. As in “It’s a bit taters today.” meaning “It’s a bit old today.”
Rabbit and Pork – usually shortened to Rabbit: Cockney rhyming slang for “talk”. As in “Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, it’s all you ever do.” meaning “Talk, talk, talk, it’s all you ever do.”
Raspberry Tart – usually shortened to Raspberry: Cockney rhyming slang for “fart”. As in “Have you just done a raspberry?” meaning “Have you just farted?”
Richard the Third – usually shortened to Richard: Cockney rhyming slang for “turd” meaning “poop”. “I need a Richard.” meaning “I need to poop.”
Rosie Lee – usually shortened to Rosie: Cockney rhyming slang for “tea”. As in “Fancy a cup of Rosie?” meaning “Would you like a cup of tea?”
Rub-a-dub-dub: Slang for “pub” meaning “public house”. As in “I’m going to the rub-a-dub-dub.” meaning “I’m going to the pub.”
Ruby Murray – usually shortened to Ruby: Cockney rhyming slang for “curry”. As in “That Ruby was a bit spicy.” meaning “That curry was a bit spicy.”
S-W. Cockney Rhyming Slang Beginning with S, T, V and W
Salmon and Trout: Slang for “snout” meaning “cigarette”. As in “Can you spare a salmon and trout?” meaning “Can you spare a cigarette?”
Scapa Flow – usually shortened to Scarper: Cockney rhyming slang for “go” which implies “run away”. As in “Let’s scarper.” meaning “Let’s run away.”
Septic Tank – usually shortened to Septic: Cockney rhyming slang for “Yank” meaning “a citizen of USA”. As in “I didn’t realise Hunter was a septic tank.” meaning “I didn’t realise Hunter was from the USA.”
Sherbet Dab: Slang for “cab” meaning “taxi”. As in “I’m getting a sherbert dab home.” meaning “I’m getting a taxi home.”
Skin and Blister: Cockney rhyming slang for “sister”. As in “Jane is my skin and blister.” meaning “Jane is my sister.”
Sky Rocket – usually shortened to Sky: Cockney rhyming slang for “pocket”. As in “Put your money back in your sky.” meaning “Put your money back in your pocket.”
Sweaty Sock – usually shortened to Sweaty: Cockney rhyming slang for “jock” meaning “Scottish person”. As in “Angus is a sweaty, isn’t he?” meaning “Angus is from Scotland, isn’t he?”
Syrup of Figs – usually shortened to Syrup: Cockney rhyming slang for “wig(s)”. As in “Is that a syrup on your head?” meaning “Are you wearing a wig?”
Tea Leaf: Slang for “thief”. As in “He’s taken my money, he’s a right tea leaf.” meaning “He’s taken my money, he’s a right thief.”
Tit for Tat – usually shortened to Titfer: Cockney rhyming slang for “hat”. As in “Don’t forget your titfer, it’s cold outside.” meaning “Don’t forget your hat, it’s cold outside.”
Tod Sloane – usually shortened to Tod: Cockney rhyming slang for “own” meaning “alone”. As in “I’m going on my Tod.” meaning “I’m going on my own.”
Tom and Dick: Slang for “sick” meaning that they’re feeling ill. As in “I feel a bit Tom and Dick today.” meaning “I don’t feel well, today.”
Tomfoolery: Slang for “jewellery”. As in “You own a lot of Tomfoolery, don’t you” meaning “You have a lot of jewellery, don’t you?”
Treacle Duff – usually shortened to Treacle: Cockney rhyming slang for “puff” meaning “gay person”. As in, “Is Paul a treacle?” meaning “Is Paul gay?”
Treacle Tart – usually shortened to Treacle: Short for “treacle tart”, Cockney rhyming slang for “sweetheart”. As in, “She’s a treacle.” meaning “She’s a sweetheart.” (Treacle is the same for both a gay person and sweetheart but the listener will understand what they mean from the context of conversation).
Trouble Strife – usually shortened to Trouble: Cockney rhyming slang for “wife”. As in “Oh no, the trouble and strife is here.” meaning “Oh no, my wife is here.”
Vera Lynn – usually shortened to Vera: Cockney rhyming slang for “skin” which is slang for “cigarette paper”. As in “Give us a Vera Lynn.” meaning “Have you got a spare cigarette paper?”
Whistle and Flute – usually shortened to Whistle: Cockney rhyming slang for “suit”. As in, “You look like James Bond in your whistle and flute.” meaning “You look smart in your suit.”
Cockney Rhyming Slang
Cockney rhyming slang is a unique linguistic phenomenon that has become synonymous with the East End of London.
It started as a way for people to communicate in a secretive manner to avoid being understood by outsiders, but it has since evolved into a beloved cultural tradition that is used across the country.
Some of the most commonly known phrases, such as “apples and pears” for stairs and “trouble and strife” for wife, have become so ingrained in the English language that only the first word is used.
It’s influence can still be seen in popular media, with many movies and TV shows featuring characters who speak in this unique dialect. And of course the next time you’re in London for some drinks, ask for a Britney Spear not a beer.