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Richard the Third

What's the meaning of the phrase 'Richard the Third'?

Turd.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Richard the Third'?

Cockney rhyming slang. This rather derogatory association no doubt owes something to the poor reputation given to England’s King Richard III by Shakespeare’s eponymous play and other fictionalized accounts.

See also: now is the winter of our discontent.

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Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Richard the Third

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