COCKNEY RHYMING SLANG (MOST COMMON WORDS)
I have noticed that quite a number of people in the UK who did not grow up hearing rhyming slang
spoken regularly, use, or misuse, "short version" terms that they have heard on television or in films,
without realizing that these are rhyming slang, and without knowing the "full version" from which these
derive. For example, "Use your loaf", "That's a load of old cobblers", "There she goes, rabbiting on
about it again", and "Sorry, I haven't got a sausage". Also, a common misuse of a full-version term is
"I've known him for donkey's years", instead of "donkey's ears", meaning simply "years", rather than
some particularly large number of years.
|
Short version |
Full version |
Translation |
|
Acker Bilk |
Milk |
|
|
Airs and Graces |
Faces |
|
| Alans | Alan Whickers | Knickers |
| Almonds | Almond Rocks | Socks |
|
Apple Tart |
Fart |
|
|
Apples |
Apples and Pears |
Stairs |
|
Artful Dodger |
Lodger |
|
| Joanna | Aunt Joanna | Piano |
|
Bacons |
Bacon and Eggs |
Legs |
| Baked Bean | Queen | |
| Baker's Dozen | Cousin | |
|
Band of Hope |
Soap |
|
|
Barclays |
Barclays Bank |
Wank |
|
Barnaby Rudge |
Judge |
|
|
Barnet Fair |
Hair |
|
|
Bees |
Bees and Honey |
Money |
|
Betty Grable |
Table |
|
|
Big Dippers |
Slippers |
|
|
Bird |
Bird Lime |
Time |
|
Bird’s Nest |
Chest |
|
|
Biscuits and Cheese |
Knees |
|
| Boat Race | Face | |
|
Bo Peep |
Sleep |
|
|
Brahms and Lizst |
Pissed ( = drunk) |
|
|
Brass Tacks |
Facts |
|
| Bread | Bread and Honey | Money |
| Bricks and Mortar | Daughter | |
|
Bristols |
Bristol Cities |
Titties |
|
Bull and Cow |
Row |
|
|
Burton |
Burton on Trent |
Rent |
|
Butchers |
Butcher’s Hook |
Look |
|
Cat and Mouse |
House |
|
|
China |
China Plate |
Mate |
|
Cobblers |
Cobbler’s Awls |
Balls |
|
Currant |
Currant Bun |
Son |
|
Daisies |
Daisy Roots |
Boots |
|
Dickory Dock |
Clock |
|
|
Dicky Bird |
Word |
|
|
Dicky Dirt |
Shirt |
|
|
Ding Dong |
Song |
|
|
Dog and Bone |
Phone |
|
|
Dolly Mixtures |
Pictures |
|
|
Donkey’s Ears |
Years |
|
|
Dustbin Lids |
Kids |
|
|
Eiffel |
Eiffel Tower |
Shower |
|
Father Ted |
Dead |
|
|
Frog |
Frog and Toad |
Road |
|
Germans |
German Bands |
Hands |
|
Ginger Beer |
Queer |
|
| Gregory Peck | Cheque | |
|
Hampsteads |
Hampstead Heath |
Teeth |
|
Holy Ghost |
Toast |
|
|
Horace Batchelor |
Spatula |
|
|
Jam Jar |
Car |
|
| J Arthur | J Arthur Rank | Wank |
|
Khyber |
Khyber Pass |
Arse |
|
Loaf |
Loaf of Bread |
Head |
|
Love and Kisses |
Mrs |
|
|
Lucy Locket |
|
|
|
Mars Bar |
Scar |
|
|
Merchant Banker |
Wanker |
|
|
Minces |
Mince Pies |
Eyes |
|
Mother Hubbard |
Cupboard |
|
|
North and South |
Mouth |
|
|
Oxo |
Oxo Cube |
Tube ( = London Underground) |
| Pen and Ink | Stink | |
|
Plates |
Plates of Meat |
Feet |
|
Porkies |
Pork Pies |
Lies |
|
Rabbit |
Rabbit and Pork |
Talk |
|
Rosie |
Rosie Lee |
Tea |
|
Round the Houses |
Trousers |
|
|
Rub-a |
Rub-A-Dub-Dub |
Pub |
|
Rum and Coke |
Joke |
|
|
Sausage |
Sausage and Mash |
Cash |
|
Sausage Roll |
Dole |
|
|
Shawshank Redemption |
Pension |
|
| Sky Rocket | ||
|
Sweeney |
Sweeney Todd |
Flying Squad |
|
Taters |
Taters in the Mould |
Cold |
|
Tea Leaf |
Thief |
|
|
Tiddly Wink |
Drink |
|
|
Tilbury Docks |
Socks |
|
|
Titfer |
Tit for Tat |
Hat |
| Tom and Dick | Sick | |
|
Trouble and Strife |
Wife |
|
|
Wallace and Grommit |
Vomit |
|
|
Weasel |
Weasel and Stoat |
Coat |
| Whistle | Whistle and Flute | Suit |