What is Cockney Rhyming Slang
Transcript of What is Cockney Rhyming Slang
What is Cockney Rhyming Slang?Cockney Rhyming slang is a coded language invented in the nineteenth century by Cockneys so they could speak in front of the police without being understood. It uses a phrase that rhymes with a word, instead of the word itself – thus ‘stairs’ becomes ‘apples and pears’, ‘phone’ becomes ‘dog and bone' and ‘word’ becomes ‘dicky bird’. It can become confusing when sometimes the rhyming part of the word is dropped: thus ‘daisies’ are ‘boots’ (from ‘daisy roots’).
What or who is a Cockney?A Cockney traditionally is a person born within hearing distance of the sound of Bow bells, meaning within the sound of the bells of the Church of St Mary Le Bow in Cheapside, London, EC2 and refers to an East London accent, however to most people living outside London the term Cockney means a Londoner.
History of Cockny Rhyming Slang by Tony Scott. a Londoner now living in the US.
The cockney language can be traced back to the early part of the 19th Century, when Sir Robert Peel formed the first Police force stationed at Bow Street, London. They were known as the Bow Street Runners, Peelers and even Bobbies (Robert - Bob). This was in 1824, and the slang, as mentioned above, was to hide the true meaning of discussions from both the Police and the nonces (informers for the Police).
Cockney Meaning Example
Adam and Eve Believe I don't Adam and Eve it!
Apples and Pears Stairs Get yer Bacons up the Apples and Pears.
Army and Navy Gravy Pass the Army and Navy.
Artful Dodger Lodger I've got an Artful to help pay the rent.
Bacon and Eggs Legs You have got a lovely set of Bacons.
Barnet Fair Hair I have just got my Barnet chopped.
Brass bands Hands I shook him by the Brass.
Bread and Honey Money I wish I had loads of Bread.
Butcher's Hook Look Take a Butcher's at that!
Christian Slater Later See ya Slater.
Cream Crackered Knackered (tired/broken) I'm Cream Crackered!
Currant Bun Sun The Currant Bun's hot today.
Danny Marr Car I'll give you a lift in the Danny.
Dicky Bird Word He hasn't said a Dicky bird in hours.
Dog and Bone Phone She's always on the Dog.
Donkey's Ears Years Ain't seen you in Donkeys.
Ham'n'cheesy Easy Ham'n'cheesy does it.
Jam Jar Car Me Jam Jar's Cream Crackered.
Jimmy Riddle Piddle (urinate) I really need to go for a Jimmy.
Lemon Squeezy Easy It was Lemon, mate.
Loaf of Bread Head He rarely using his loaf of bread.
Pete Tong Wrong Everything?s gone Pete Tong.
Plate of Meat Street I was walking down the Plate...
Plates of Meat Feet I've been on me Plates all day.
Pork Pies (Porkie Pies) Lies He's always telling Porkies.
Rabbit & Pork Talk She Rabbits on a bit.Let's Rabbit and Pork.
Richard the Third Turd That bloke's a complete Richard.
Sweeney Todd Flying Squad (Police) Here come the Sweeney.
Syrup of Figs Wig Check out the Syrup on 'is head.
Tea Leaf Thief Watch it, he's a bloody Tea Leaf.
Weasel & Stoat Coat Pull on yer Weasel.
Whistle and Flute Suit I just got a new Whistle.
What are the differences between British English and American English?
There are many English words which are different to American words. For example:
A lorry is a truck. A lift is an elevator. A fortnight is two weeks. A chemist is a person who works in a drugstore. A dual carriageway is a divided highway.
Lisa and Sofia Efthymiou, an American mum and daughter, have listed below a few of the differences between British and American words.
British and American Vocabulary
What shall we wear? Parts of a Car
At School In and around the House
On the Road People
Buildings / Shops Sport
Let's Eat! Other Words
British and American Spellings Test Yourself
What shall we wear?
British English American English
Trousers Pants
Pants / Underwear / Knickers Underwear / panties
Jumper / Pullover / Sweater /Jersey
Sweater
Pinafore Dress Jumper
Vest Undershirt
Waistcoat Vest
Wellington Boots / Wellies Galoshes
Mac (slang for Macintosh) Rain Coat
Plimsolls Gym Shoes
Trainers / Plimsolls / Pumps Sneakers
Braces Suspenders
Dressing Gown Robe
Nappy Diaper
Pinny / Apron Apron
Polo Neck Turtle Neck
Dressing Gown Bath Robe
Swimming costume / Cozzy Bathing Suit
In England, we would be embarrassed if people saw our pants. why?
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At School
British English American English
Friend / Mate Friend
Glue Gum
Rubber Eraser
Maths Math
Public School Private School
State School Public School
Holiday Vacation
School dinner Hot Lunch
Staff Room Teachers Lounge
Plimsolls Gym Shoes
"mucking around" / Off Task Off Task
Play Time / Break Time Recess
Open Day / Open Evening Open House
Marking Scheme Grading Scheme
Drawing pins pushpins or thumbtacks
"Stop mucking around and get on with your work," shouted the teacher to two students who were off task.
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On the Road
British English American English
Sleeping Policeman Speed bump
Car park Parking Lot
Car Journey Road Trip
Zebra Crossing / Pedestrian Crossing
Cross Walk
Lollipop Man or Lady Crossing Guard
Motorway Freeway
Traffic Jam / Tailback Traffic Jam
Lorry Truck
Articulated Lorry Tractor Trailer / Trailer Truck
Petrol Gas / Gasoline
Pavement Sidewalk
Petrol Station Gas Station
Skip Dumpster
Diversion Detour
Fire Engine Fire Truck
Phone Box Telephone Booth
In England, we drive slowly over sleeping policemen.
Are we afraid of waking them up?
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Buildings / Shops
British English American English
Semi-Detached House Duplex
Flat Apartment
Terrace Town House
Chemist Drug Store / Druggist
Cafe / Caffs (not 24 hrs) Diner
Bungalow House (one story) Ranch House
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Let's Eat! Are you Peckish? (Are you Hungry?)
British English American English
Biscuit / Bickie(A cookie is a large biscuit)
Cookie
Scone Biscuit
Fairy Cake Cup Cake
Courgette Zucchini
Sweets Candy
Sausage / Banger Sausage
Crisps Potato Chips
Chips(French Fries in McDonald's)
French Fries
Starter Appetizer
Puddings / Afters / Dessert / Sweets
Dessert
Jacket Potato / Baked Potato Baked Potato
Jam Jelly
Jelly Jello
Aubergine Eggplant
Sandwich / Butty / Sarny Sandwich
Ice lolly Popsicle
Bill (at restaurant) check
Grill Broil
Food / Grub / Nosh Food
Rasher A slice of bacon
Eggy bread (fried) French Toast
Runner beans Green beans
Soldiers (We dip soldiers in our soft boiled eggs)
Finger sized slices of toast.
Take-away Take out
Scotch Pancakes Flapjacks
Flapjacks in England are oats mixed with honey and/or golden syrup and baked then cut into slices. sometimes raisons are added to the mixture.
What's for afters? Have you had your pudding yet?
Are you feeling peckish (hungry)?
That food looks very scrummy (delicious)
Find out more:
about the food we eat in England about British Slang words
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Parts of a Car
British English American English
Bonnet Hood
Windscreen Windshield
Boot Trunk
Reversing lights Back-up lights
Exhaust pipe Tail pipe
Wing / Mudguard Fender
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In and around the House
British English American English
The Toilet / Loo / The John / Bog / WC / Visiting the little boys (little girl's room).
Bathroom / Restroom
Bathroom - the room where the bath is. If you asked us for the bathroom we will think you want to have a bath!
Tap Faucet
Garden Backyard / Yard
Wardrobe Closet
Bin / Dust Bin Trash Can
Telephone / Blower / Phone Telephone
Television / Box / Telly/ TV TV / Television
Cooker Range or Stove
Couch / Sofa / Settee Sofa
Hand Basin / Sink Sink
Run the bath Fill the tub
I watch the telly whilst lying on the settee.
Whilst is used in British English. It is another word for while
People
British English American English
Girl / Lass Girl
Boy / Lad Boy
Man / Bloke / Gentleman / Guy / Chap
Man / Guy
Lady / Woman Lady
Policeman / Bobby / Copper Policeman / Cop
Postman Mailman
Dustman Garbage Man
Friend / Pal / Chum / Mate / Buddy
Friend / Buddy
Cashier Teller
Lollypop Man Crossing Guard
Nutter Crazy Person
Mum Mom
Sport
British English American English
Football Soccer
Rounders Baseball
Bat (table tennis) Paddle (ping pong)
Other Words
British English American English
Plaster Band-Aid
Autumn Fall
Bank Holiday National Holiday
Lift Elevator
Queue Stand in a Line
Quid (slang for pound) Bucks
Surgery Doctor's office
Trodden on Stepped on
I'm knackered I'm Beat
Kip sleep
Nick steal
Wireless / Radio Radio
Starkers Naked
Come round Come over
Off you go Go ahead
It's gone off It's spoiled
Lady bird Lady bug
Spellings
British English American English
colour color
humour humor
favourite favorite
theatre theater
kilometre kilometer
mum mom
cosy cozy
realise realize
dialogue dialog
traveller traveler
cheque check
jewellery jewelry
tyre tire
British words vs. American wordsWrite the common American word instead of the British English word:
She bought a tin of beer - She bought a of beer.
He bought some sweets. He bought some .
She took her clothes from the wardrobe. She took her clothes from the .
She ate a biscuit. She ate a .
They bought a pack of cards. They bought a of cards.
The baby needed a new nappy. The baby needed a new .
A pencil and a rubber are necessary tools. A pencil and an are necessary tools.
Fill up the tank with petrol. Fill up the tank with .
It was all rubbish. It was all .
What class are you in? What are you in?
The postman delivered a parcel. The delivered a .
The tube is an effective transport. The is an effective transport.
They had three weeks holiday. They had three weeks .
The car drove in the round-about. The car drove in the circle.
They approached a crossroads. They approached an .
British vocabulary vs. American vocabularyWrite the most common American words in the gaps:
In our building we have a caretaker to see to that things are ok. In our building we have a to see to that things are ok.
Give me that bottle of paraffin for the lamp. Give me that bottle of for the lamp.
On the top of the roof we have an aerial for our television set. On the top of the roof we have an for our television set.
In October it is autumn. In october it is .
Bank notes are easier to carry than coins. are easier to carry than coins.
I was in the Tivoli - I tried several tours in the big dipper. I was in the Tivoli - I tried several tours in the .
Give me another sweet thing - one of those biscuits. Give me another sweet thing - one of those .
I will have to get a new pair of shoelaces - as I broke them this morning. I will have to get a new pair of - as I broke them this morning.
The trousers were too big - so I had to wear braces. The were too big - so I had to wear .
Between two lessons you often have a break. Between two lessons you often have a .
British spelling vs. American spellingThe following words are spelled in British English - write the American spelling:
The American spelling of tonight can be .
The American spelling of colour is .
The American spelling of grey is .
The American spelling of cheque is .
The American spelling of metre is .
The American spelling of theatre is .
The American spelling of programme is .
The American spelling of defence is .
The American spelling of licence is .
The American spelling of centre is .
The American word for - and spelling of aeroplane is .
The American spelling of neighbour is
British Sayings and Proverbs
Every cloud has a silver lining.There's always something good in bad times.
A stitch in time saves nine.Act early and you can save a lot of time.
Nothing ventured nothing gained.You have to try or you won't get anything.
Out of the frying pan into the fire.From one problem to another.
One man's meat is another man's poison.People often don't like the same things.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.Don't question good luck.
You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.You can give a person a chance, but you can't make him or her take it.
The grass is always greener on the other side.You always think that other people's lives are better than yours.
The best things in life are free. We don't have to pay for the things that are really valuable, like love, friendship, good health etc.
Don't cross your bridges before you come to them. Don't worry about problems before they arrive.
It was the last straw that broke the camel's back. There is a limit to everything. We can load the camel with lots of straw, but finally it will be too much and the camel's back will break. And it is only a single straw that breaks its back - the last straw.
This can be applied to many things in life. People often say "That's the last straw!" when they will not accept any more of something.
Where there's a will there's a way. If we have the determination to do something, we can always find the path or method to do it.
Marry in haste, and repent at leisure. If we get married quickly, without thinking carefully, we may be sorry later. And we will have plenty of time to be sorry.
The best advice is found on the pillow. If we have a problem, we may find the answer after a good night's sleep.
People also often say: "I'll sleep on it."
You can't tell a book by its cover. We need to read a book to know if it's good or bad. We cannot know what it's like just by looking at the front or back cover. This proverb is applied to everything, not only books.
Bad news travels fast. " Bad news" means news about "bad" things like accidents, death, illness etc. People tend to tell this type of news quickly. But "good news" (passing an exam, winning some money, getting a job etc) travels more slowly.
Birds of a feather flock together. " Birds of a feather" means "birds of the same type". The whole proverb means that people of the same type or sort stay together. They don't mix with people of another type
Live and let live. This proverb suggest that we should not interfere in other people's business. We should live our own lives and let others live their lives.
The way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Many women have won a man's love by cooking delicious meals for him. They fed his stomach and found love in his heart.
Better untaught than ill taught. This proverb drops the verb "to be". But we understand: "It is better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly." It's better not to learn something than to learn it badly.
Soon learnt, soon forgotten. Something that is easy to learn is easy to forget.
British Sayings
Bob's your uncle. It is added to the end of sentences a bit like and that's it!
Origin of Bob's your Uncle
"Bob's your Uncle" is a way of saying "you're all set" or "you've got it made." It's a catch phrase dating back to 1887, when British Prime Minister Robert Cecil (a.k.a. Lord Salisbury) decided to appoint a certain Arthur Balfour to the prestigious and sensitive post of Chief Secretary for Ireland.
Not lost on the British public was the fact that Lord Salisbury just happened to be better known to Arthur Balfour as "Uncle Bob." In the resulting furor over what was seen as an act of blatant nepotism, "Bob's your uncle" became a popular sarcastic comment applied to any situation where the outcome was preordained by favoritism. As the scandal faded in public memory, the phrase lost its edge and became just a synonym for "no problem."By James Harris
Burning the Candle at Both Ends - working for many hours without getting enough rest
Eyes are bigger than your belly - think you can eat more than you can 'My eyes were bigger than my belly, I couldn't eat every thing I had put on my plate'
Sleep Tight - Have a good nights sleep
Tie the Knot - Get Married
What language do you speak in Britain?
In Britain we speak British English. It is not the same as American or Australian English. 'Hi mate' is not the correct and appreciated way to approach someone in the street. Neither is 'G'day', 'Howdy' or 'Hey Mister'. The formal British way to greet some one is 'Good morning, good afternoon or good evening' and, if you want to ask something, 'Excuse me please'.
Interesting Facts
The English language is a West Germanic language, originating from England.
Over fifty percent of the English language is derived from Latin
English is the third most common "first" language (native peakers), with around 402 million people in 2002.
Not everyone in Britain speaks with a plummy English accent, like Hollywood wants you to believe. No-one sounds like Dick van Dyke in the film, Mary Poppins.
In Britain, every part of the country has its own way of speaking English. People in Yorkshire sound very different to people in Surrey; a Somerset accent is very different from an Scottish accent and it's hard to believe that people from Birmingham are speaking the same language as those from Cornwall. Most people in Britain can guess where someone comes from by the way they speak, either by their accent or by the words they use.
A dialect found mostly in East London is called cockney rhyming slang. You can read more about cockney rhyming slang by clicking here.
If you would like to speak like a person from London, Newcastle, Scotland, and Liverpool, click on the link below.
Queen's English Jolly Well
Liverpool Scouse Translator
North England Yorkshire Translator
Birmingham Brummie Translator
Newcastle Geordie Translator
Scotland Scott Translator
London (East End) Cockney Rhyming Slang Translator
WalesPeople in Wales speak a different language completely. About 25% of the people there still speak in their native Celtic tongue called welsh.
Shwmae? in welsh means How are you?Hoffet ti ddiod? means Would you like a drink?
ScotlandIn some regions of Scotland, gaelic is used as a first language (particularly in the Highlands and the Western Isles). All over
Scotland, the accent is markedly stronger, some words are different but overall it is not too difficult to understand.
Slang WordsBelow are a few slang words commonly used in Britain.
Bloke - man.'John is a nice bloke to know.'
Botched - poor quality repairs.'He made a botched job of fixing the television.'
Bottle - courage.'He doesn't have the bottle to ask her.'
Cheesed Off - fed up
Chuck it down - to rain, often heavily.'It is going to chuck it down soon.'
Chuffed - If you are chuffed, you are happy with something. 'I was chuffed to win a medal!'
Daft - Crazy / stupid
Dosh - Money / cash 'I haven't got much dosh to give you.'
Gobsmacked - Incredibly amazed.'I was gobsmacked when I saw my birthday presents.'
Gutted - Not happy because of an event that has occurred that didn't go your way. 'I was gutted when I didn't win the race'
Jammy - Used in place of lucky when describing someone else. 'He was very jammy winning the lottery'.
Scrummy - Delicious. Shortened from scrumptious.'The food was very scrummy'
Skint - Broke. No money.'I'm skint, I wont be able to buy the DVD today.'
to Snog - to long kiss
Telly - Television'I watched the news on the telly last night.'
Spellings
British English American English
colour color
humour humor
favourite favorite
theatre theater
kilometre kilometer
mum mom
cosy cozy
realise realize
dialogue dialog
traveller traveler
cheque check
jewellery jewelry
tyre tire
Why do Americans speak differently than people in England?
" The Americans are identical to the British in all respects except, of course, language."Oscar Wilde
"We (the British and Americans) are two countries separated by a common language."G.B. Shaw
American and the British use a lot of the same words . . . but they say them differently.
Accents play a part in the different ways people speak English around the world. Generally, an accent difference uses the same words for things, but pronounces them differently.
Americans have accent differences in different regions such as the South, Boston or New York.
In British English, however, not only do we pronounce the same words differently (accent), we also use different words for some things making it more a difference in dialect.
Australian English sounds like the British English accent to most Americans, but there are aborigine words added to the language which constitute a dialect difference.
Culture has an effect on language too. Cultural differences give rise to different vocabulary, phrases and different developments in grammar. America and Britain have very different cultures.
I suppose you could say that the English spoken in the different countries have evolved over time