Fear not! There is no need to learn a different language to be understood in London. English spoken is here, but knowing London rhyming slang is great fun!
Every culture and activity has its own slang and London is no exception. But what is different about rhyming slang is the tight geographic association with East London and in particular with the street traders.
It consists of two related words, which are code for another third word, which rhymes with the second word of the couplet.
For example: Frog and Toad = Road. So, if a person didn't want an outsider to overhear and understand what they were saying to their friend, they would simply say. "I'm going down the frog.
As it was a spoken slang, the words did not have to rhyme in the written sense. This was strictly a rough and ready, every day, phonetic method of rhyme.
Here are some more of the traditional expressions.
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Jack The Ripper Apple and Pears Adam and Eve Trouble and Strife Sometimes there were more than one set of slang for a particular word, which also gives . . . Duchess of Currant Bun Get into a right two and eight Butcher's Hook Hampstead Heath Dickey Bird North and South Daisy Roots Rub a Dub Dub Whistle and Flute Barnet Fair Bull and Cow Vera Lynn Gold Watch Gay and Frisky Sky Rocket Kettle and Hob Rosie Lee Lillian Gish Boat Race Tom Foolery Dog and Bone Pen and Ink Heap of Coke Elephant's Trunk Jam Jar Gregory Peck Rory MacGraw Dickey Dirt Boat Race There were also the slighter ruder versions: Chalfont Saint Giles also Farmer Giles Bottle and Glass Brahms and Liszt D'Oyle Cart (the opera company) I'm not translating these . . . Now you have the idea - work it out yourself! Although Rhyming Slang was first identified around the middle of the nineteenth century, it's still going strong and more modern terms are still being created today. Mars Bar Tommy Steele (Pop music singer) Becks and Posh (famous sportsman and his wife) |
Kipper (a type of smoked fish) Stairs Believe (as in "Would you Adam and Eve it?") Wife Also Wife (as in "My old Dutch") Sun State (get excited or agitated) Look ("Let me have a butcher's") Teeth Word ("Not heard a dickey bird from him in ages") Mouth Boots Pub (Public House – Bar) Suit Hair Row Mate (friend) Gin Scotch (Whisky) Whisky Pocket Fob (an old fashioned pocket watch) Tea Fish Face Jewellery Phone Stink Bloke (Man or guy) Drunk Car (automobile) Neck Door Shirt Face I'm not translating these . . . Now you have the idea - work it out yourself! Scar Eel Pong Nosh (food) |