Cockney Rhyming Slang
Cockney Rhyming Slang is a specialised form of slang used in the East of London. It is a kind of antilanguage where words are replaced by phrases that rhyme (sound the same): North and south = mouth Adam and Eve = believe Sometimes, the last word is dropped.
Why is Cockney Rhyming Slang called so?
A Cockney is a Londoner; the original definition was someone born near enough to hear the bells of Bow, which meant people in the east of the city. The word Cockney means the egg of a cockerel (male hen) and was meant as an insult, implying dishonesty in business deals by trying to sell non-existent or low quality goods, or so the story goes. The term is now used happily and proudly by the people of the east and north of London, who regard themselves as the 'real' Londoners in a very cosmopolitan city where a lot of the population have come in from other areas of the country or abroad.
As well as having a distinctive pronunciation and many grammatical features, the language of London is most notable for its Rhyming Slang. This consists of using a phrase that rhymes, sounds the same, as the word you want to say, so 'telephone' becomes 'dog and bone'. Unfortunately, many of the phrases then lose the second word, making it very hard for the outsider to guess the original meaning; 'rabbit' for 'talk' comes from the phrase 'rabbit and pork', but few would be able to guess it.
A lot of the original rhyming slang appeared among the market traders in the east end of London in the 19th century, but it is still used and new words and phrases are being invented all the time. At the moment, it is very fashionable to use famous people's names, so the DJ Pete Tong is used meaning 'wrong'- 'thing's have gone Pete Tong'.
Here is The List of Cockney Rhyming Slangs beginning with M.
Macaroni: (UK) Macaroni = pony (£25)
Macaroni cheese: (UK) Macaroni cheese = keys ('Macaronis' is used)
Maggie's den: (UK) Maggie's den = Number 10 (10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British Prime Minister) Maggie = Margaret Thatcher, the first woman to be Prime Minister
Magnus Pike: (UK) Magnus Pike = dyke (lesbian) Magnus Pike was a TV scientist in the UK.
Mahatma Ghandi: (UK) Mahatma Ghandi = brandy or shandy (beer mixed with lemonade)
Manhole cover: (UK) Manhole cover = brother (Cockneys often pronounce 'th' as /v/.)
Marcia Hughes: (UK) Marcia Hughes = NewsMarcia Hughes is a journalist.
Matthew Kelly: (UK) Matthew Kelly = telly (TV) Matthew Kelly is a TV presenter.
Maurice Gibb: (UK) Maurice Gibb = fib (lie- noun) Maurice Gibb was one of the Bee Gees pop group.
Merchant banker: (UK) Merchant banker = wanker ('wanker' is a British English term whose dictionary meaning is a person who masturbates, but generally just implies a low opinion of that person.)
Merry old soul: (UK) Merry old soul = arsehole (idiot, fool)
Metal Mickey: (UK) Metal Mickey = sickie (taking time off work by pretending to be ill) Metal Mickey was a robot in a British TV programme.
Mickey Rooney: (UK) Mickey Rooney = loony (mad person)Mickey Rooney was an actor.
Mickey Rourke: (UK) Mickey Rourke = porkMickey Rourke is an actor.
Mince pies: (UK) Mince pies = eyes Normally shortened to 'minces'
Mrs Chant: (UK) Mrs Chant = aunt
Mum and dad: (UK) Mum and dad = mad
Mutt and Jeff: (UK) Mutt and Jeff = deaf
Mystic Meg: (UK) Mystic Meg = leg Mystic Meg is an astrologer.
From Cockney Rhyming Slang to HOME PAGE
|