Entry 1
A bull and cow
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for a row or argument.
Usage Mostly in the UK, but occasionally elsewhere too.
Example
- They were shouting and screaming at each other - a real bull and cow.
Pronunciation
Idioms · 97 entries
Cockney rhyming slang for a row or argument.
The United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom - 20th century.
Britain. A variant of ‘cocked up’, which is of mid-20th century origin.
USA, 20th century.
USA, 19th century.
From the Celtic folk belief in fairies.
Britain, 20th century. An allusion to the game of cricket.
USA, late 20th century.
The UK and USA in the early 20th century.
Britain, late 19th century. People assume this expression has a vulgar origin but, in fact, when coined the hairs referred to were those on the back of the neck.
WWII
USA, 2004.
Britain, mid 20th century.
USA, 1970s.
Britain, 20th century.
Originally USA (as ‘go ape’). Britain, 1950s (as ‘go ape shit’). Derived from the habit of apes of throwing faeces at adversaries when agitated.
USA, 20th century.
Britain, 17th century. Derived from the name of the carrier Thomas Hobson.
USA, 1940s.
Britain, alluding to the popular DJ Pete Tong.
Britain - 18th century.
Britain, 19th century.
USA, late 20th century.
USA, mid 20th century.
Origin uncertain - possibly related to the US jockey Tod Sloan.
USA, mid-20th century.
USA, early 21st century.
USA, mid-20th century.
Britain, 19th century. Originally an example of rural slang.
USA, 1870s.
USA, 1890s. Note: Shit creek isn’t a real place.
Britain, mid-20th century.
Britain, late 20th century.
USA. First said by Justin Timberlake to explain the inadvertent exposure of Janet Jackson’s breast during the half-time show at the 2004 Super Bowl.
Entry 1
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for a row or argument.
Usage Mostly in the UK, but occasionally elsewhere too.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 2
Meaning A fist, as used in a fight.
Usage Mostly in the UK, but occasionally elsewhere too.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 3
Meaning Nonsense.
Usage Widely used, especially in the UK. Slang and borderline swearing - not one for your Grandma.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 4
Meaning A more emphatic version of ’Absolutely’.
Usage Mainly in the UK.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 5
Meaning Ruined or shambolic.
Usage Predominantly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 6
Meaning 1. A cat that lives wild in a town. 2. Slang term for a prostitute.
Usage Mostly USA
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 7
Meaning A slang term for small child.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 8
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for stairs.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 9
Meaning Not facing reality; in a dream world.
Usage In Ireland, but also spreading to other countries.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 10
Meaning Someone who enters into an amorous relationship with a much younger person.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 11
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for hair.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 12
Meaning Slang term for a homosexuality.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 13
Meaning An open-handed slap in the face intended to be humiliating.
Usage Widely used, but mainly amongst the young.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 14
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for sister.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 15
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for fart.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 16
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for face.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 17
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for arse.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 18
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for pissed.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 19
Meaning Extremely cold weather. The full expression is 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey'.
Usage Worldwide, mostly among people in their 20/40s, as a slang expression.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 20
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for facts.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 21
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for daughter.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 22
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for queer (i.e. homosexual).
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 23
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for dead.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 24
Meaning Trapped by an opponent in a situation you can't escape.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 25
Meaning Of a man pursuing women.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 26
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for pipe.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 27
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for mate.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 28
Meaning women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese in WWII.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 29
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for knackered. - note, when this term was coined, cream crackers were a popular snack in the UK.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 30
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for sun.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 31
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for boots.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 32
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for shirt.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 33
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for telephone.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 34
Meaning 1. Cockney rhyming slang for ears. 2. A very long time.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 35
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for drunk.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 36
Meaning An imaginary double, humorously referred to in order to explain the uncharacteristic bad behaviour of a normally moral person. Usually used light-heartedly. The expression formed as an allusion to plots in films involving actual evil twins.
Usage Worldwide, but mostly amongst the young and hip.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 37
Meaning A downmarket cinema - allegedly verminous.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 38
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for road.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 39
Meaning A mental hospital.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 40
Meaning A person who adopts a deliberately androgynous appearance, by use of uni-sex make-up, hair-style and clothing. Probably influenced by 'bender' being an earlier slang term for homosexual.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 41
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for daft.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 42
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for queer.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 43
Meaning A very small (imaginary) unit of measurement.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 44
Meaning Become excessively agitated and excited.
Usage Worldwide, but not in polite company.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 45
Meaning A small cheap cafe selling fried food.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 46
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for neck.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 47
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for pinch.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 48
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for look.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 49
Meaning 1. A choice forced upon someone. 2. Cockney rhyming slang for voice.
Usage Worldwide, although mostly amongst the older generation.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 50
Meaning An expression of extreme surprise or disbelief.
Usage Mostly USA.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 51
Meaning To be easily successful, especially concerning sex or romance.
Usage Worldwide, but more common in the USA than elsewhere.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 52
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for gone wrong.
Usage Mainly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 53
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for dancing.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 54
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for car.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 55
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for piddle.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 56
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for arse.
Usage 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
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 57
Meaning Die.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 58
Meaning Sexual intercourse between two people standing up.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 59
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for head.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 60
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for bed.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 61
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for eyes.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 62
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for deaf.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 63
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for duchess.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 64
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for mate.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 65
Meaning The inadvertent exposure of a womans nipple.
Usage Mostly USA and UK and not amongst the older generations.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 66
Meaning The important aspects of a situation; the heart of the matter.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 67
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for mouth.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 68
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for alone.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 69
Meaning Excellent; wonderful.
Usage Mostly USA.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 70
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for stink.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 71
Meaning Spoil a photograph by unexpectedly appearing in the picture and taking the attention away from the intended subject - usually as a prank.
Usage A recent derivation, not yet taken up by the older generations.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 72
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for feet.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 73
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for lies.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 74
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for cold.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 75
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for talk.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 76
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for tea.
Usage Mainly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 77
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for curry.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 78
Meaning A reference to an inept or undesirable person or thing.
Usage Mainly USA.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 79
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for go.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 80
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for fake.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 81
Meaning Jokey term for the early morning.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 82
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for wig.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 83
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for look.
Usage Mainly Britain
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 84
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for thief.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 85
Meaning 1. An expression of sympathy. 2. Said of something that the speaker rates very lowly.
Usage Mostly USA, bit spreading Worldwide in recent years.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 86
Meaning A small and usually insignificant factor (or person) dominates over one that is normally more powerful and influential.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 87
Meaning Promiscuous woman.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 88
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for hat.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 89
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for wife.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 90
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for state.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 91
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for sick.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 92
Meaning In serious difficulty, with no hope of respite.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 93
Meaning Think smart.
Usage Worldwide, but most commonly in Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 94
Meaning Relax in a slothful manner, usually watching tv while lying on a sofa - (that is, become a 'couch-potato').
Usage Worldwide, but most commonly restricted to the under 40s.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 95
Meaning Referring to an item of clothing slipping out of place to expose part of the body.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 96
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for suit.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation
Entry 97
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for would you believe it?
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
Pronunciation