Cockney rhyming slang


Cockney rhyming slang for a row or argument.

They were shouting and screaming at each other – a real bull and cow.

The United Kingdom.

Mostly in the UK, but occasionally elsewhere too.


Nonsense.

He says he has invented a perpetual motion machine, which is clearly a load of cobblers.

The United Kingdom.

Widely used, especially in the UK. Slang and borderline swearing – not one for your Grandma.


Cockney rhyming slang for stairs.

Time for bed Jimmy – get yourself up the apples and pears.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for hair.

I’m not sure about that new hairdresser – he cut my barnet much too short.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for sister.

There were five of us at home – three brothers and two blood blisters.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for fart.

Not good timing – we were sitting at the table when Granny said grace and he let go a raspberry.

Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for face.

Stupid am I! Look into my boat and say that again!

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for arse.

He slipped on those wet leaves by the gate. Legs in the air and landed on his bottle.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for pissed.

Two bottles of wine at home and then four pints in the pub – he was totally Brahms by ten-o-clock.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for facts.

I’m telling you brass tacks mate. Florida is bigger than England.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for daughter.

The girls got into trouble but her mother and I still love them – they are our bricks and mortars after all.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for queer (i.e. homosexual).

Quite appropriate that James lives with Julian in Brighton – they are Brighton Pier after all.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for dead.

That bird just landed on the live power cable. He’s brown bread for sure.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for pipe.

Get me twenty cigarettes while you are out would you? – and some tobacco for my cherry ripe.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for mate.

We’ve been friends since school, haven’t we my old china?

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for knackered. – note, when this term was coined, cream crackers were a popular snack in the UK.

That’s an hour on the exercise bike. I can’t do any more – I’m crackered.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for sun.

It’s rained every day for ages. I can’t remember the last time I saw the currant bun.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for boots.

I can’t get them on. Either my feet have got bigger or these daisies have shrunk.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for shirt.

Jane’s wedding today. I’ll need a newly pressed dickie dirt for that.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for telephone.

I need to talk to Jackie. Get her on the dog and bone for me would you?

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


1. Cockney rhyming slang for ears. 2. A very long time.

1. Prince Charles has a fine pair of donkeys. 2. This is the first school reunion we’ve had since 1982. I haven’t seen some of these people in donkey’s years.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for drunk.

He’s been in the bar since we opened six hours ago. It’s fair to assume that he’s totally elephants by now.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for road.

Hurry up and move the car – I can see a traffic warden coming just down the frog and toad.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for daft.

That handstand on the window ledge. You could say he was brave or you could say he was George Raft.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for queer.

Julian is ginger – and I don’t mean that he’s got red hair.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for neck.

It’s freezing out there. Better get a scarf round your Gregory if you’re going out.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for pinch.

It’s hopeless – whenever I try to start a DIY job I find that someone has half-inched some of my tools.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for look.

Now madam, have a Captain Cook at these men and point out the one who attacked you.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


1. A choice forced upon someone. 2. Cockney rhyming slang for voice.

1. There was only one room left in the hotel when we arrived, so we got Hobson’s choice. 2. I’ve had a sore throat for a couple of days – now I’m beginning to lose my hobsons.

Britain, 17th century. Derived from the name of the carrier Thomas Hobson.

Worldwide, although mostly amongst the older generation.


Cockney rhyming slang for gone wrong.

I thought I could make mayonnaise with butter. When I tried it all went Pete Tong.

Britain, alluding to the popular DJ Pete Tong.

Mainly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for dancing.

Julie wants me to go with her to the ballroom for a night of Jack Palancing.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for car.

Check my new Audi. Its the best jam jar I’ve ever owned.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for piddle.

Now kids, this is going to be a long car trip and we don’t want to be stopping every five minutes. Just go and have a Jimmy before we set off.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for arse.

That was really insulting to my mother. When he bends over he’s going to get a good kick up the khyber.

Britain.

Mainly Britain. Note that the original pronunciation of ‘pass’ would have been ‘parse’, to rhyme with ‘arse’. This reflects the ‘long r’ vocalisation of Cockneys. Current pronunciation depends on where you come from


Cockney rhyming slang for head.

Betting your wages on the toss of a coin isn’t the best way to get out of debt – use your loaf mate.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for bed.

The hamster escaped and the cat got it – it’s Lord Fred for sure.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for eyes.

If that traffic warden comes back let me know – keep your minces open will you?

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for deaf.

You have to shout – he’s almost completely mutton.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for duchess.

This year will be our silver wedding, the old dutch and me.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for mate.

We’ve been best pals since schooldays. He’s my best china plate.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for mouth.

No, it’s true! I heard it straight from her own north and south.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for alone.

The others have all gone out – I’m on my tod.

Origin uncertain – possibly related to the US jockey Tod Sloan.

Worldwide.


Cockney rhyming slang for stink.

That drain cover should be an airtight seal but it’s broken. There’s a real pen and ink in here.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for feet.

I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to help with the Christmas post. Ten miles up and down stairs today – my plates are killing me.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for lies.

You can’t trust what he tells you – half of his stories are porkies.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for cold.

Whoa, it’s the coldest day of the winter so far – really taters.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for talk.

He just goes on and on about his hobbies – rabbit, rabbit, rabbit!

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for tea.

Put the kettle on would you? I’d love a nice cup of rosie lea.

Britain.

Mainly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for curry.

Every Friday night after work, the lads all pile into the Star of India for a ruby.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for go.

The police are on there way. With your record they are bound to think the fight was your fault – you’d better scarper before they get here.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for fake.

That picture was supposed to be by Monet but there was a mobile phone in the background – I knew right away it was a sexton.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for wig.

That thatch on Donald Trump’s head – it has to be a syrup.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for look.

There’s a triple rainbow over there. If you don’t believe me take a butchers yourself.

Britain.

Mainly Britain


Cockney rhyming slang for thief.

Just be careful to keep your purse safe when you go down to the market – there are plenty of tea leaves ready to steal it.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for hat.

It looks like rain – I think I’ll need a coat and my titfer.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for wife.

Twenty years we’ve been married now, the trouble and strife and myself.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for state.

His clothes were awry and he’d lost one of his shoes – he was in a right two and eight.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for sick.

Sorry, I won’t be into work today. I’ll feeling Uncle Dick.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Think smart.

Sending money to that Nigerian email scam. Use your loaf, mate – wasn’t it obvious it was a con?

Britain, mid-20th century.

Worldwide, but most commonly in Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for suit.

That important interview is coming up next week. I think I ought to get a new whistle.

Britain.

Mostly Britain.


Cockney rhyming slang for would you believe it?

Amazing – he hit double top six times with six darts. Would you Adam and Eve it?

Britain.

Mostly Britain.

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.