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 P.


Pam Shriver: (UK) Pam Shriver = fiver (five-pound note) Pam Shriver was a tennis player.


Paper hat: (UK) Paper hat = prat (idiot, stupid person)


Paraffin lamp: (UK) Paraffin lamp = tramp (hobo/bum)


Park benches: (UK) Park benches = Frenchies (people from France)


Pat and Mick: (UK) Pat and Mick = sick


Patrick Swayze: (UK) Patrick Swayze = lazy Patrick Swayze is an actor.


Paul Weller: (UK) Paul Weller = Stella (Stella Artois is a Belgian beer) Paul Weller is a musician.


Pearl diver: (UK) Pearl diver = skiver (someone who avoids working)


Peckham Rye: (UK) Peckham Rye = tie


Peggy Sue: (UK) Peggy Sue = clue


Pen and ink: (UK) Pen and ink = stink (also used as a verb) 'It pen an' inks in 'ere.'


Penelope Cruz: (UK) Penelope Cruz = booze (alcoholic drink) Penelope Cruz is an actress.


Percy Thrower: (UK) Percy Thrower = blower (telephone) Percy Thrower was a gardener on British TV.


Perry Como: (UK) Perry Como = homo (homosexual, gay) Perry Como was a famous singer.


Pete Tong: (UK) Pete Tong = wrong Things have gone Pete Tong. Pete Tong is a famous DJ.


Peter Kay: (UK) Peter Kay = gay Peter Kay is a British comedian.


Peter Purvis: (UK) Peter Purvis = nervous Peter Purvis was a British TV presenter.


Philharmonic: (UK) Philharmonic = gin and tonic


Piccolo and flute: (UK) Piccolo and flute = suit


Pick n' mix: (UK) Pick n' mix = sticks (countryside)


Pigeon feather: (UK) Pigeon feather = Weather


Plates of meat: (UK) Plates of meat = feet


Pocket watch: (UK) Pocket watch = Scotch (whisky)


Popeye the sailor: (UK) Popeye the sailor = tailor


Pork and cheese: (UK) Pork and cheese = Portuguese


Pork chop: (UK) Pork chop = cop (police officer)


Porkie Pies: (UK) Porkie pies = lies If someone is telling porkies, they are lying. This is often used in the plural.


Posh and Becks: (UK) Posh and Becks = sex These are the nicknames of the English footballer David Beckham and his wife, a former singer.


Postman Pat: (UK) Postman Pat = fat Postman Pat is a character in a British TV series for children.

This is The List of Cockney Rhyming Slangs beginning with P.

Cockney Rhyming Slang Index