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Cockny Rhyming Slang |
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| Slang | English | Usage |
| Adam and Eve | Believe | I don't Adam and Eve it![Usually full slang expression is used] |
| Airs and Graces | Braces | He's got his new airs on. |
| Alan Whickers | Knickers | The 'lastics gone in me alans. [Alan Whicker used to host a TV programme called Whickers World ] |
| Alderman's Nail | Tail | He's always wagging his alderman's. |
| Almond Rocks | Socks | Wouldn't it be nice if your almonds matched? |
| Apple Fritter | Bitter (beer) | I've tried that new apple but I prefer my salmon [Salmon and trout - stout]. |
| Apples and Pears | Stairs | Get yourself up the apples and pears. |
| April Showers | Flowers | I forgot it was my anniversary, so I picked some aprils on the way home. |
| Aristotle | Bottle | If you want milk, put the Ari on the doorstep. |
| Aristotle=Bottle=Bottle and Glass=Arse; therefore, Aris=Arse | Arse | I gave him a good kick up the Arse [Thanks to Ray Davis.] See also bottle. |
| Army and Navy | Gravy | Can I have some army for my mashed? |
| Artful Dodger | Lodger | She's taken in an artful to help pay the way. |
| Arthur Bliss | Piss | I'm just popping out for an Arthur [Arthur Bliss was a famous English composer (1891-1975). Thanks to Robert Harper] |
| Aryton Senna | Tenner (10 pound note) | 'ere, lend us an aryton me old china [Aryton Senna was a Formula One driver - thanks to Tom Harvey] |
| Auntie Ella | Umbrella | Wonderful - it's starting to rain and me without my Auntie Ella. |
| Auntie Nellie | Belly | I punched him in the Auntie but he didn't even notice. |
| Babbling Brook | Cook | My missus couldn't babble to save her life. [See also Crook] |
| Babbling Brook | Crook | He's always on the babble. [Meaning he's always planning something crooked. See also Cook]. |
| Bacon and Eggs | Legs | Lovely set of bacons. |
| Baked Potato | Later | I'll see ya baked. [Thanks to Eric Van Zanten] |
| Bale of Hay | Gay (homosexual) | Don't bother Britany - he's bale. |
| Ball of Chalk | Walk | After a heavy meal I like quick ball round the square. |
| Balloon Car | Saloon Bar | I'll be at the balloon. |
| Bang Allan Border | Out of Order | He's Bang Allan [used when someone does something to another person that is not looked upon favourably. Bang Allan Border was the Australian cricket captain in the late 80's/early 90's so we now have our first example of international rhyming slang. Thanks to Anthony J. Houlahan for this] |
| Barn Owl | Row (argument) | Went up to the dole office today. 'Ad a bit of a barney with the geezer behind the |
| Barnaby Rudge | Judge | I'm up in front of the Barnaby tomorrow morning. |
| Barnet Fair | Hair | She must be going out - she's got her Barnet done. |
| Barney Rubble (Flintstones) | Trouble | Stay away from him. He's really Barney. |
| Bat and Wicket | Ticket | I've got a bat for tonight's train. |
| Battle Cruiser | Boozer | I've got to get to the battle before I go to the party [Thanks to Peter Cotterell] |
| Beecham's Pill | Bill (statement) | I got my Beecham's from the tax people. |
| Bees and Honey | Money | Can't go in there without any bees. |
| Bengal Lancer | Chancer (someone not qualified) | News paper adds would state no bengal lancers when advertising for tradesmen. [Thanks to Ray Davis] |
| Bird Lime | Time | What's the bird? |
| Bird's Nest | Chest | I had to punch him in the bird's nest. [Thanks to Robert Lynch] |
| Biscuits and Cheese | Knees | I've been on my biscuits all day. |
| Boat Race | Face | Nice legs, shame about the boat. [Also a good song by The Monks] |
| Boiler House | Spouse | Me boiler's always yammerin' on. [Thanks to John Butt] |
| Bonney Fair | Hair | She's got beautiful shiny bonney. |
| Boom and Mizzen | Prison | 'e's off to the boom for a bit. [Thanks to Mike Shepherd] |
| Bo-Peep | Sleep | What I need is a good bo-peep. [Thanks to Bernie Albert] |
| Borassic Lint | Skint (broke) | He's right boric. [Thanks to Peter Langdale who's a chemist in the UK for correcting this one] |
| Bottle and Glass | Arse | I gave him a good kick up the bottle. |
| Bottles and Stoppers | Coppers (police) | Blimey - I think the bottles are on to me! |
| Bow and Arrow | Sparrow | Little bow and arrow fell out of the nest. [Usually the full slang expression is used] |
| Box of Toys | Noise | Hold your box - they can hear you miles away! |
| Brahms and Liszt | Pissed (drunk) | He's well Brahms and Liszt , don't give him any more to drink. [Thanks to Ray Davis] |
| Brass Tacks'Ere, | Facts | you've got your brass wrong! [Thanks to Alan Little] |
| Bread and Butter | Gutter | Found him laying in the bread and butter. [Usually full slang expression is used] |
| Bread and Cheese | Sneeze | I hate allergies - one good bread after another. |
| Bread and Honey | Money | Let's drink with him - he's got bread. [This one has enjoyed very common usage] |
| Bricks and Mortar | Daughter | I'm taking me bricks and mortar shopping. [Thanks to Geoff and Niki Sams] |
| Briney Marlin | Darlin' | You look lovely tonight, me old briney. |
| Brittney Spears | Beers | 'ow about a Brittney?" [Brittney Spears is a popular singer. Thanks to Ben Allen] |
| Brown Bread | Dead | I'm telling you, mate. He's brown bread [Thanks to Peter Cotterell] |
| Brussel Sprouts | Scouts | He's always been a brussel. |
| Bubble and Squeak | Greek | 'E's not a bad bloke for a bubble. [Bubble and squeak is a uniquely British dish of fried mashed potatoes and something green (usually cabbage, but left over brussel sprouts work well)] |
| Bubble Bath | Laugh | You're 'avin a bubble aren't ya? [Thanks to Neil Churchard] |
| Bucket and Pail | Jail | One drink too many and I get seven days in the bucket. |
| Bugs Bunny | Money | I've got some Bugs bunny in me sky rocket and I'm off down the rub-a-dub-dub. [Thanks to Nigel Ritson] |
| Bull and Cow | Row (argument) | Had a right bull with my misses last night. |
| Burnt Cinder | Window | Close the bloody burnt [This works if you mispronounce window... winda - and cinder... cinda as any good Englishman would. Thanks to Sparky James] |
| Burton on Trent | Rent | They've raised my burton again. |
| Bushel and Peck | Neck | He's got a bushel like tree trunk. |
| Butcher's Hook | Look | Here - take a butcher's at this. |
| Cab Rank | Bank | I won't be long - just going to the cab rank [Thanks to Mike Smith] |
| Cain and Abel | Table | Sit yourself at the cain and I'll bring you your Tommy (Tommy Tucker - supper). |
| Calvin Klein | Fine | I'm calvin today. [Thanks to Tony Alderton] |
| Can of Oil | Boil | 'e'd be nice looking once his canov's clear up. [Thanks to Marie Gordon] |
| Cape of Good Hope | Soap | Go wash yourself - and use the cape. |
| Captain Hook | Book | I've read this captain. |
| Cash and Carried | Married | Poor bloke got cashed on the weekend. |
| Cat and Mouse | House | Went 'round to his cat to wake him up. |
| Chalfont St Giles | Piles (hemorrhoids) | Me chalfonts are playing up. [Thanks to Paul Costello] |
| Chalk Farm | Arm | He broke his chalk. |
| Chas and Dave | Shave | I'm off for a chas [Thanks to Conor Keeling] |
| Cheerful Giver | Liver | Lovely - cheerful for dinner tonight. [Mike King has written to say that he that the slang for liver comes from "The Lord loves a cheerful giver", which was then shortened to Lord... Lovely - we're have the Lord for dinner tonight.] |
| Cheesy Quaver | Favour | Do us a cheesy. |
| Cherry Hogg | Dog | My bloody cherry is off again. |
| Chevy Chase | Face | You can wipe that smile off your Chevy Chase [Thanks to Paul Beer] |
| China Plate | Mate | How are you, my old china? |
| Chinese Blind | Mind | You're out of you little chinese mate. [Thanks to Danny O'Sullivan] |
| Claire Rayners | Trainers (running shoes) | I've got me new Claire Rayners on [Thanks to John Tsang - Claire Rayner is an author] |
| Cobbler's Awls | Balls (testicles) | Go on! Kick him in the cobblers! [Can also be used to express disbelief, such as "Cobblers! That's not the way it is."] |
| Cock and Hen | Ten | I didn't get much change back from a cock [Thanks to Peter Cotterell] |
| Cock Sparrow | Barrow | He's wheeling his cock 'round the market. |
| Conan Doyle | Boil 'e's | got a conan on his bottle the size of me fist! [Thanks to Marie Gordon] |
| Constantino Rocca | Shocker | Played a round of golf yesterday - had a complete Constantino [Constantino Rocca is an Italian golfer - thanks to Christian Martinsen] |
| Corn on the Cob | Job | 'e can't afford it - 'e ain't got a corn [Thanks to Mike Smith] |
| Council Gritter | Shitter (rectum) | When I sat down there was a pin on my chair! Right up the council gritter! [Thanks to Uncle Custard. He reports that a council gritter is the machine that comes around and puts grit on icy roads] |
| Cream Crackered | Knackered (tired) | I'm cream crackered, mate. [Thanks to David Carruthers] |
| Crust of Bread | Head | Use your crust mate. |
| Cuddle and Kiss | Miss | She's a cute little cuddle. |
| Currant Bun | Son | He's awfully proud of his currant. |
| Current Bun | Nun | My meanest teachers were currents [Thanks to Aziz McMahon] |
| Current Bun | Sun | Old current bun's out today [Thanks to Ray Davis.] |
| Custard and Jelly | Telly (TV) | As usual, nothing on the custard tonight. |
| Cuts and Scratches | Matches | Do you have any cuts? |
| Daffy Down Dilly ' | Silly | e's a bit daffy. [Daffy Down Dilly is a line of dolls from Madam Alexander. Thanks to Peter Bendall] |
| Daft and Barmy | Army | He was promoted in the daft. [Thanks to Alan Little] |
| Daisy Roots | Boots | You can't go out in the rain without your daisies. |
| Danny LaRue | Clue | He ain't got a danny. [Thanks to Charly Large] |
| Derby Kelly | Belly | That's the stuff for you Derby Kell; makes you fit and it makes you well [From old cockney song ABoiled Beef and Carrots - pronounced Darby. |
| Dickory Dock | Clock | What's the time on the dickory? |
| Dicky Bird | Word | He left without so much as a dicky. |
| Dicky Dirt | Shirt | Put your dicky dirt on before the company gets here. |
| Dig in the Grave | Shave | A quick shower and dig and I'll be ready to go. |
| Ding Dong | Song | Everyone gather round the piano for a ding dong. [Usually the full slang expression is used] |
| Dog and Bone | Phone | She's always on the dog. |
| Donald Duck | Luck | How's your Donald? [Thanks to Charly Large] |
| Donald Trump | Dump (shit) | I've got to go for a donald [Thanks to Peter Conway] |
| Donkey's Ears | Years | Ain't seen you in donkeys mate. [Thanks to Ossie Mair] |
| Drum Roll | Hole | Let's pop 'round to my drum (referring to someone's house). [Thanks to Dave Hughes] |
| Duchess of Fife | Wife | Now my old dutch, where are we off to tonight? |
| Duke of Kent | Rent | I can't afford to pay the Duke of Kent this week [Thanks to Mike Smith] |
| Duke of York | Chalk | All I got for my birthday is a bit of duke. |
| Dustbin Lids | Kids | A nice girl but too many dustbin's. |
| Eartha Kitt | Shit | I'm going for an Eartha [See also 'Tit' - Thanks to Peter Cotterell for this variation] |
| Elephant's Trunk | Drunk | He shouldn't be driving! He's bloody elephant's. |
| Elsie Tanner | Spanner (wrench) | Can I borrow your elsie [Thanks to Alan Little] |
| Emma Freuds | Hemorrhoids | Me Emma's are playing me up. [Emma is a BBC DJ on Radio 1 - Thanks to Stuart Burgess & Gordon Leel] |
| Faith and Hope | Soap | Where's the faith and hope, I wanna wash me 'ands [Thanks to Mike Smith] |
| Farmer Giles | Piles (hemorrhoids) | Blimey, I ain't 'alf suffering from me farmers [Thanks to David Hughes] |
| Field of Wheat | Street | He out standing in the field, waiting for a bus. |
| Fine and Dandy | Brandy | A small drop of fine would suit me. |
| Fish Hook | Book | I've read the new fish by Deighton. |
| Five to Two | Jew | If you're a fiver then today's your Sabbath. |
| Flowery Dell | Cell | I've got three more years in this flower. |
| Forrest Gump | Dump (shit) | "Off out in 10 minutes?" "Yeah, just got to have a Forrest first". [Thanks to Richard English] |
| Four by Two | Jew | He's not from around here - he's a four. |
| Friar Tuck | Luck | 'E always had a bit of friar tuck. [Thanks to Martyn Tracy] |
| Frog and Toad | Road | Don't ride your bike on the frog. [See Road => Kermit] |
| Gamma Ray | Stray | That Mary's a bit of a gamma [Thanks to Dan Collins and Keith Uden] |
| Gary Glitter | Shitter (rectum) | He kicked him right up the Gary [Thanks to Neil Churchard] |
| Gay and Frisky | Whisky | I'll have a gay and I'm off. [Be careful where you use this] |
| Geoff Hurst | Burst (urinate) | I'm dying for a Geoff. [Geoff Hurst's World Cup Final hat-trick v West Germany at Wembley in 1966 and six goals v Sunderland (19.10.68) two years later, have been woven into the fabric of football folklore. Thanks to Stuart Burgess & Gordon Leel] |
| German Bands | Hands | Get your germans off my missus. |
| Gertie Gitana | Banana | I like a gertie on my cereal [Possibly an old music hall star - Thanks to Christopher Webb] |
| Giggle and Titter | Bitter | 'ere. I could use a giggle. [Thanks to Martin McKerrell] |
| Ginger Ale | Jail | 'e's doing time in the ginger. [Thanks to Wendy Shaw] |
| Ginger Beer | Engineer | He knows his stuff, after all. |
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Ginger Beer |
Queer | I don't know about that - sounds a bit ginger. |
| Giraffe | Laugh | You're havin' a giraffe, mate. [Thanks to Ed Balch] |
| Glenn Hoddle | Doddle (easy or straight forward) | That jobs a Glen Hoddle. [Glenn Hoddle was the coach of the English football team . |
| God Forbids | Kids | Couldn't hear a thing 'cause of all the Godfor's. |
| Gold Watch | Scotch (Whisky) | 'E enjoys his gold watch [Thanks to Martyn Tracy] |
| Goose's Neck | Cheque | He stuck me with a bouncing goose. |
| Grasshopper | Copper (police) | He got nabbed by the grasshoppers. |
| Greengages | Wages | I've blown the greengages down at the dogs [Thanks to Mike Smith - for them what aren't familiar with greengages, you can see a lovely picture of them here] |
| Gregory Peck | Cheque | I never 'ad any bread on me, so I 'ad to pay by Gregory. [Thanks to Peter Cotterell] or, [another example from Kevin McKerrell] - I'm going down to the iron to sausage a gregory. |
| Gypsy Nell | Hell | My knee is giving me gyp today. [Thanks to Chris Webb] |
| Gypsy's Kiss | Piss | Blimey - no more beer till I've 'ad a gypsy's. |
| Hampstead Heath | Teeth | His hampsteads (hamps) are a crime. |
| Hampton Wick | Prick | He gets on my wick. [Don't even try to understand this one - just accept it] |
| Hank Marvin | Starvin | 'I'm bloody Hank Marvin. I haven't eaten all day [Hank Marvin was the guitarist for The Shadows from the 1960's to the 1990's. Thanks to Neil Churchard] |
| Harry Dash | Flash (natty) | 'e was alway a bit of an 'arry [Thanks to Sparky James] |
| Harry Randall | Candle | Look at all the Harry's on his cake. |
| Harry Wragg | Fag (cigarette) | Have you got a harry? [Frank Baynham reports that Harry Wragg was a famous jockey] |
| Hearts of Oak | Broke (financial) | I'm skint mate. Bleedin' hearts. |
| Henry Moore | Door | They broke the 'enry down at number thirty two [Thanks to Alan Little] |
| Hit and Miss | Piss | I've got to have a hit before we go out. |
| Holy Ghost | Toast | How about another round of 'oly. [Thanks to Jack Summers] |
| Hopping Pot | Lot (Serving or share) | That's your hopping mate. [Meaning, that's all you get. Thanks to James Vosper who says that this may have originated with Londoners who traveled to Kent and other districts to gather hops for beer] |
| Horse and Cart | Fart | Have you just horse & carted? [Thanks to Paul Beer] |
| I Suppose | Nose | That rotten drunk gave me a clip on me I suppose. |
| Ins and Outs | Snouts (Cigarettes) | 'ere mate, got any ins and outs? [Thanks to James Hotston] (See Salmon and Trout) |
| Irish Rose | Nose | She gave me a kiss on my Irish. |
| Iron Hoof | Poof (homosexual) | He's a bit of an iron. |
| Iron Tank | Bank | He lost his house to the iron. |
| Jack & Jill Till | (Cash register) | 'E got nicked with 'is 'ands in the old jack and jill [Thanks to Martyn Tracy] |
| Jack and Jill | Bill (statement) | I'm going home - can I have my Jack? [See also Hill] |
| Jack and Jill | Hill | The store is up the jack. [See also Bill] |
| Jack and Jill Pill | (birth control) | She's on the Jack [Thanks to Justyn Olby] |
| Jack Jones | Alone | He went to the pub all Jack. [This doubtless comes from a Music Hall song sung,
somewhere between 1900 and 1914, by the Cockney songster Gus Elen entitled " 'E dunno where 'e are".
Gus is buried in Streatham Park Cemetery, London. I believe he died about 1944. The song is about a bloke, Jack
Jones, who comes into a sum of money and thinks himself too good for his former mates: "When he's up at Covint Gardin you can see 'im a standin' all alone, / Won't join in a quiet little Tommy Dodd (half-pint of beer), drinking Scotch and Soda on 'is own, / 'E 'as the cheek and impidence to call 'is muvver 'is Ma, / Since Jack Jones came into a little bit o' splosh, well 'e dunno where 'e are." - Thanks to Frank Haigh for the explanation of the source] |
| Jack Tar | Bar (pub) | I'm off to the Jack. [See also 'Alone' and Bar (pub). Could be very confusing if you're going alone - "I'm off to the jack jack". Or, if you were telling your brother Jack, "I'm off to the jack jack, Jack"] |
| Jackson Pollock | Bollocks | This modern art's a load of old Jacksons [Thanks to Justin Ellis. Pollock is a "20th Century strange artist".] |
| Jam Jar | Car | Bloody jam is down again. |
| Jam Roll | Arsehole | That geezer is a right jam roll. [Thanks to Robert Lynch] |
| Jim Skinner | Dinner | Is my Jim ready yet? |
| Jimmy Riddle | Piddle (urinate) | I've had three pints - I could use a jimmy. |
| Joanna | Piano | He sparkles on the joanna. [Just to confuse you, they mispronounce the word you're trying say, so instead of 'piano' they call it a 'piana'] |
| Jockey Whips | Chips | I'll have a large plate of jockey's [Thanks to Paul Aylett] |
| Johnnie Horner | Corner | I'll meet you 'round the Johnnie. |
| Kate and Sydney | Steak and Kidney | A lovely Kate and Sydney pie [Not really rhyming slang - more a matter of getting your mords wixed up] |
| Kate Karney | Army | He's off and joined the Kate. |
| Kate Moss | Toss | I couldn't give a Kate Moss. [Thanks to Alex Marsh] |
| Kermit | Road | 'e took off down the kermit. [From Kermit the Frog => frog and toad => road. Thanks to Gavin Wallace] |
| Kettle and Hob | Watch (fob watch) | That's a lovely kettle [Thanks to Mark Sparrow] |
| Khyber Pass | Arse | Stick it up your khyber. |
| King Lear | Queer (gay) | e's a bit King Lear. [Thanks to Leslie Munday] |
| Kingdom Come | Bum | He just sat on his kingdom all day [Thanks to Alan Little] |
| Kitchen Sink | Clink (jail) | After that last episode he'll be in the kitchen for a while [Thanks to Wendy Shaw] |
| Knobbly Knees | Keys | Have you got your knobblies with you? [Thanks to Beeman] |
| La-di-da | Cigar | I enjoy a good la-di-da after me meal [Thanks to Sparky James] |
| Lady Godiva | Fiver (,5 note) | Ere, that bloke still owes me lady! [Thanks to Peter Cotterell] |
| Lee Marvin | Starvin' | I'm Lee Marvin [Thanks to Peter Conway who wrote all the way from Dubai - he adds that if you're really hungry you could say, "I'm Hank, and his brother Lee". Lee Marvin was an American actor. See other entry for starvin' (Hank Marvin). And no - they're not related.] |
| Lemon Lime | Crime | Not one lemon reported all night [Thanks to Alan Little] |
| Leo Fender | Bender (homosexual) | That blokes a bit leo after all. [The late Leo Fender was the inventor of the Stratocaster guitar - thanks to Richard English] |
| Leo Sayer | All Dayer (all day drinking session) | Let's make it a Leo Sayer. |