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Cockney rhyming slang uses rhyming words instead of real words to make a phrase. It was first created in the east end of London (Cockney = a slang term for a Londoner). The rhyming slang has no relationship with the phrase, it’s only used because it rhymes (so it will help you with pronunciation). Sometimes we just say part of the phrase, not all of it.
Cockney rhyming slang list
Let’s learn the lingo of Londoners, take a look at some rhyming slang and see if you can understand.
- Adam and Eve
meaning – believe
example – Would you Adam and Eve it, she`s only gone and dumped him.
Adam and Eve are biblical characters. - Alan Wickers
meaning – knickers
example – Don’t get your Alan Wicker`s in a twist.
Alan Wickers was a British journalist, presenter, and broadcaster. - apples and pears
meaning – stairs
example – Run up the apples and pears and grab my glasses will ya? - Artful Dodger
meaning – lodger
example – My artful dodger ain’t been paying his rent, so I told him to sling his hook (leave).
The artful dodger is a character from the Charles Dickins novel Oliver Twist. - bacon and eggs
meaning – legs
example – I need a sit down; my bacon and eggs are aching. - baked bean
meaning – Queen
example – Hush, the baked bean is coming on the custard and jelly to make a speech. - baker`s dozen
meaning – cousin
example – I`m going round my baker`s dozen for a chinwag. - Barnet fair
meaning – hair
example – I love your new Barnet.
Barnet fair is an annual horse fair. - Barney Rubble
meaning – trouble
example – The boy`s been getting into barney rubble at school.
Barney Rubble is a character from The Flintstones. - battle cruiser
meaning – boozer
example – Why don’t us lads go down the battle cruiser. - bees/bread and honey
meaning – money
example – I`m working all weekend, I need some more bread and honey. - boat race
meaning – face
example – What`s up with your boat race? You moody git.
- Bob Hope
meaning – soap
example – Buy me a bar of Bop Hope, I need a good shower.
Bop Hope was an English-American comedian. - bottle and glass
meaning – ass
example – Your skirt`s too short, everyone can see your bottle and glass. - box of toys
meaning – noise
example – What a racket! Whose making all that box of toys? - bread and cheese
meaning – sneeze
example – I keep bread and cheesing; summer must be on its way. - bricks and mortar
meaning – daughter
example – The bricks and mortar got top marks again. - Bristol cities
meaning – titties
example – Look at that bird, she`s got her Bristol’s out. - brown bread
meaning – dead
example – The old dear next door is brown bread. - bubble bath/giraffe
meaning – laugh
example – You`re `avin a giraffe ain’t ya? (you`re joking, right?) - bull and cow
meaning – row
example – Hark at those two across the street, they`re having a right bull and cow. - butcher’s hook
meaning – look
example – Have a butchers at my new dog and bone. - cream crackered
meaning – knackered
example – I`m cream crackered, I need an early night. - custard and jelly
meaning – telly
example – Stick on the custard and jelly and have a butchers at what`s on.
- Damon Hill
meaning – pill
example – I`m off to a rave tonight, I’ve got 2 Damon Hills in my pocket, it`s gonna be a good `un.
Damon Hill was British racing driver. - Darby and Joan
meaning – moan
example – The missus is `avin a Darby and Joan.
Darby and Joan is a word for a content couple who are happy living a quiet simple life. - Darren Gough
meaning – cough
example – I woke up with a right Darren Gough today.
Darren Gough was an English cricketer. - dicky bird
meaning – word
example – Oi, I need a dicky bird with you. - dog and bone
meaning – phone
example – Can somebody answer the dog and bone? - duck and dive
meaning – skive
example – I`m gonna duck and dive today. - fireman`s hose
meaning – nose
example – Look at the size of the fireman’s hose on that chap. - frog and toad
meaning – road
example – Walk a few more blocks down the frog and toad and you`ll be there. - half inch
meaning – pinch
example – Your bike`s nice, be careful someone don’t half inch it. - Hank Marvin
meaning – starving
example – I`m hank Marvin, who fancies bangers and mash?
Hank Marvin is a British singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. - jam jar
meaning – car
example – Let`s take your new jam jar out for a spin.
- Jimmy Riddle
meaning – piddle
example – I`m off to the khazi for a jimmy riddle. - Lady Godiva
meaning – fiver
example – I still owe you a Lady Godiva.
Lady Godiva was an English noblewoman who rode through the streets naked on a horse. - Lionel Blairs
meaning – flares
example – It`s fancy dress at the weekend, perhaps I’ll get my Lionel Blairs out.
Lionel Blair is an actor, presenter and tap dancer. - loaf of bread
meaning – head
example – Use your loaf, what`s happened to common sense. - mince pies
meaning – eyes
example – I think I need to go to the optician, my mince pies are getting worse. - Moby Dick
meaning – sick
example – The governor ain’t in today he`s Moby Dick.
Moby Dick is a novel about a whale. - Mork and Mindy
meaning – windy
example – I`m not going out, it`s Mork and Mindy outside.
Mork and Mindy is an American Sitcom starring Robin Williams. - Pete Tong
meaning – wrong
example – I got fired and my misses finished with me, it`s all gone Pete Tong.
Pete Tong is an English DJ. - plates of meat
meaning – feet
example – I`ve been walking all day, my plates of meat ache. - pork pie
meaning – lie
example – Don’t tell porkies, I will find out the truth. - raspberry tart
meaning – fart
example – That smells awful, who did a raspberry tart?
- Richard III
meaning – turd (shit)
example – Who did a Richard the third in the toilet and didn’t flush?
Richard III was a king of England. - Rosie Lee
meaning – tea
example – Stick the kettle on, and we can all have a nice cup of Rosie Lee. - Ruby Murray
meaning – curry
example – I fancy a Ruby Murray for tea.
Ruby Murry was a singer in the 1950s. - sausage roll
meaning – goal
example – What a stunning sausage roll by Parker. - skyrocket
meaning – pocket
example – Put that pony (£25) in your skyrocket before someone swipes it. - tea leaf
meaning – thief
example – Whose tea leafed my bacon sarnie? - trouble and strife
meaning – wife
example – I`m in the bad books with the trouble and strife. - Vera Lynn
meaning – gin
example – Let`s go down the battle cruiser for a Vera Lynn.
Vera Lynn is a singer, songwriter, and actress. - whistle and flute
meaning – suit
example – I’ve bought a new whistle and flute for the wedding.
Cockney rhyming slang picture examples
Are you still having trouble understanding Cockney rhyming slang?
Check out these illustrated examples.
