What is Rhyming Cockney Slang?

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:48 am

Can someone help me with this? Why would someone say "apples and pears" for "stairs?" Do you make up the words as you go and hope people understand you or is it a standard language where everyone knows what you mean? How did it come about? Does anyone here use it? If someone does, could you give us an example?

I figured this would be a good place to ask because y'all are so smart.

Thank you!

G-man · Post by **G-man** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:08 am

Has anyone ever tried to use 'Tear in a bucket' in a limerick? :wah:

Carl44 · Post by **Carl44** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:25 am

RedGlitter wrote: Can someone help me with this? Why would someone say "apples and pears" for "stairs?" Do you make up the words as you go and hope people understand you or is it a standard language where everyone knows what you mean? How did it come about? Does anyone here use it? If someone does, could you give us an example?

I figured this would be a good place to ask because y'all a re so smart.

Thank you!

i never use it myself but i have friends from london that do , you dont use both words for example yoy would say apples

or widows wink is chink or chinese gentleman

so my mate would say clock the widows

look at the chinese man well sort of

or would you adam that which means adam and eve =believe or would you believe that

or berkshire hunt = er not a very nice person at all really :sneaky:

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:47 am

Hi Red...us Brits are a strange breed

Hopefully the following link will shed some light on your question.

http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/articles ... -slang.htm

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:56 am

Hi Red,

The town where i live is full of Cockneys as in the 60's many came here from London. My mum is a cockney and i quite often use slang as it was what i was brought up with. Many people think i'm a cockney as i sound just like my mum. It's quite funny as people that visit 'Royal Berkshire' think everyone talks posh, then they hear me and i totally ruin it for them!! I have been known to put on my posh Berkshire accent but i always lapse and throw in the odd slang words then give up and talk normally!! :-6

By the way Bez, great info site

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:06 am

Hiya Red, its as Jimbo and Bez said.

That's Cockney Rhyming slang spoken originally by Cockneys from London's East End. A cockney is anyone born within the sound of Bow Bells. But loads of people use cockney today.

For instance, Jimbo might be off down the rub-a-dub (pub) and Bez would use the dog-and-bone (phone), if she went shopping she could say she had tired plates (plates of meat = feet). A girl's hair is Barnett Fair, so I could say you have a nice barnett in your av. And nice boobs are called Bristols (from Bristol City - I'll leave you to work that one out!)

:wah:

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:10 am

Bez wrote: Hi Red...us Brits are a strange breed

Hopefully the following link will shed some light on your question.

http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/articles ... ng.htmCool link. I had always assumed that slang was supposed to shorten the way we say things.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:17 am

Thanks guys!!

Those examples are so weird! Several times I had to stop and really think it out. I'm always fascinated by dialects and speech patterns and terminology in different regions. Appalachian and Pennsylvania "Dutch" being a couple of them. But this rhyming stuff really makes me have to think.

Thanks for the examples everyone and for the link too!

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:30 am

Clancy wrote: Maybe Arn and Pants will reply post to you, and see if you can make out what they're saying to you.

.

That would be fun, Clancy!

I'll probably be a total Dumb American and require help though. :wah:

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:33 am

RedGlitter wrote: That would be fun, Clancy!

I'll probably be a total Dumb American and require help though. :wah:

You want to have a go?

Okay, what do you think you would be eating if you went for a Ruby Murray?

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:39 am

Curry- but I only know that because I saw it in Bez's link!

How about another one??

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:40 am

RedGlitter wrote: Thanks guys!!

Those examples are so weird! Several times I had to stop and really think it out. I'm always fascinated by dialects and speech patterns and terminology in different regions. Appalachian and Pennsylvania "Dutch" being a couple of them. But this rhyming stuff really makes me have to think.

Thanks for the examples everyone and for the link too! :)I worked with a Pennsylvania Dutchess once. She kept saying we'uns, you'uns (or yuns), and stuff like that. Once I found a pen on the floor and asked whose it was. "Oh, that's my'un." she says. So I said, "You shouldn't leave such a priceless artifact just lying around."

She didn't get the joke.

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:40 am

After a ruby murry he always pen n inks

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:44 am

I got it Suzy!! Pen and Inks= stinks! Is that right??

Accountable- I get the joke! It's a cerebral one, but it's funny.

One phrase they use that I find charming is "outen the lights" for turn off the lights.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:12 am

Oh my!

Okay, I could only guess a few of them...let me take a stab here....

Clancy wrote: Have a go at this, I wrote this in Arn's profile comments....it's a mixture of both slang, and rhyming slang. Can you decipher this?

"Paul ? .... yer I know paul, awright. We 'wos out, sataday night, on the pull, when some 'plonka comes over, givin it the big 'un

a bit 'a this, and a bit 'a that, 'fore I knows it, bish bash bosh, (punches were thrown?) claret spilt, dahn the ready rub (blood all over the pub?)

Next fing I see's the OB (a cop? A bobby?) dashin' in, 'ands behind me back, collar felt, "Your nicked my son" (got handcuffed, grabbed by the shirt and you're under arrest?)

Standin' in the dock, "Do you solemnly swear to tell the whole truth , and nuffin; but the truth"? (You went to court?)

Yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir, won't 'appen again sir, as god is me witness. sir

The old beak wif' the syrup gives it a caution , next time we're custodial in Her Maj's B&B (old woman? Does beak=bird?) (The lady judge gave you a warning and if you do it again, you're headed for jail- or maybe the dungeon?) (Dungeon=Tower of London?)

Same night dahn the Dog & Duck , some twat wif an afro knocks Pauls pint over, "Oi' you wanka, 'ave some of this, bish bash bosh , stone me, 'he's at it again. (Down at another pub, another fight happened over spilled beer)

Paul? yer I know Paul, diamond geeza , top bloke, salt of the earth"

.

I don't know Clancy, I think I'm a fool here, but it's a good time just the same. :wah: What is three bags full anyway?? This is fun- how badly did I do?

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:28 am

Accountable wrote: Cool link. I had always assumed that slang was supposed to shorten the way we say things.

I guess that's normally so ACC, but as cockney rhyming slang is/was a kind of code between traders/ 'entrepeneurs' it follows a different set of rules.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:33 am

Try this as well....it does seem a bit more 'modern though.

http://www.phespirit.info/cockney/english_to_slang.htm

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:41 am

This really is fun! I could never get away with even attempting to speak like this but I think it would really be something to hear.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:46 am

Clancy mentioned the 'Old Bill' a couple of posts back.....a term used in the UK for the Police....this is interesting about the origins of the term, but NOT conclusive.

http://www.met.police.uk/history/oldbill.htm

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:54 am

RedGlitter wrote: Can someone help me with this?

Probably, there are a few references "out there".

RedGlitter wrote: Why would someone say "apples and pears" for "stairs?"

They would not. They'd just say "apples". "A curry" would be "A Ruby"

RedGlitter wrote: Do you make up the words as you go and hope people understand you or is it a standard language where everyone knows what you mean? How did it come about? Does anyone here use it? If someone does, could you give us an example?

http://www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk/

Lots of expressions are used in English generally, see:

http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/articles ... -slang.htm

Unfortunately the above is still a little inaccurate (although IMO much better

than the "cockneyrhymingslang" link, and contains an abusive term for people

from the USA (which should ensure you read it!).

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:14 am

I'm becoming more and more impressed with this cool language!

Bill, thank you for the links.

Arnold, what is a costermonger? It doesn't sound like a good thing...?

How about these Pearl Kings and Queens? I'm not sure I understand that.

I think it's really nice of all of you to explain this so nicely!! Thank you!

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:44 am

These songs remind me of when i used to go to London to stay in the holl's with my grandparents, they used to go to the social club every night for a game of bingo, then a man used to get on the piano, and everyone used to see the good ole London songs, they are great memories i have

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:00 pm

ArnoldLayne wrote:

Here is a link for Pearly Kings and Queens

http://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Pe ... Queens.htm

That is very neat!! I can't believe I've never heard of them before. What rock have I been living under all this time?!

With their fancy costumes, history and those photos, they kind of remind me of the crewes of New Orleans...in the Mardi Gras parades....

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:32 am

Blimey im hank marvin ,..... i think i'll ave an everton toffee to go with me lilly + skinner .

Then i'm gonna have a tiddley wink down the rubber dub dub with me old china plate . Then we're gonna go a bit radio rental at me mates russel harty .

I might even fancy a billy brag with an oily rag

..laugh and joke anyone .....

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:38 am

Pinky wrote: ROFPMSL!!!!!:yh_rotfl :yh_rotfl :yh_rotfl

It's probably a good job that only a few of us got that, haha!!!

You're wicked Pants!!!

Blimey my dad used to use all of the cockney ryming slang when i was a kid , all the apples and pears , rosey lea stuff .

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:55 pm

pantsonfire321@aol.com wrote: Blimey im hank marvin ,..... i think i'll ave an everton toffee to go with me lilly + skinner .

Then i'm gonna have a tiddley wink down the rubber dub dub with me old china plate . Then we're gonna go a bit radio rental at me mates russel harty .

I might even fancy a billy brag with an oily rag ..laugh and joke anyone .....

Blimey, I'm starving, I think I'll have a coffee to go with my dinner.

Then I'm gonna have a drink down at the pub with my....uh...? Date!!!?

Then we're going mental (crazy) at my friend Russell's party.

Ok....what's the last part?? I have no clue! :wah:

I'm having so much fun with this thread, you guys! It's really nice of you to go along!

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:47 am

RedGlitter wrote: Blimey, I'm starving, I think I'll have a coffee to go with my dinner.

Then I'm gonna have a drink down at the pub with my....uh...? Date!!!?

....no mate

Then we're going mental (crazy) at my friend Russell's party.

Ok....what's the last part?? I have no clue! :wah:

I'm having so much fun with this thread, you guys! It's really nice of you to go along!

Billy brag - shag

oily rag - slag

laugh and joke - smoke