Slang (Part I) - Rhyming Slang

A couple of days ago I came across this news article:

"A cash machine operator has introduced Cockney rhyming slang to a number of its ATMs in east London.

People using Bank Machine's ATMs can opt to have their prompts and options given to them in rhyming slang.

As a result they will be asked to enter their Huckleberry Finn, rather than their Pin, and will have to select how much sausage and mash (cash) they want.

The rhyming slang prompts will be available from five cash machines in east London for three months.

Other rhyming slang prompts people can expect include a speckled hen (£10), while the machine may inform users that it is contacting their rattle and tank, rather than bank." (read the whole story and listen to locals' opinion here)

So, what is Cockney rhyming slang? This is a special encryption that makes it possible for the speakers to completely confuse outsiders. Instead of saying, for instance, "Let's go up the stairs" the user of rhyming slang would say "Let's go up the apples." This comes from 'apples and pears' where you drop the second (the actual rhyming) word. The exact origins of the phrase are unknown. Probably, the shape of the apple and pear stalls at the market reminded somebody of stairs. Despite the nice image, once you have dropped the rhyming part it gets really difficult to find out the meaning. (Note for foreign learners of English: The word 'pear' rhymes with 'stair' or 'wear' and not with 'hear'!)

My personal favourite is 'Dog and Bone' used for a telephone. The classical telephone's receiver really had a bone-like look to it and the 'dog' really seemed to be clinging onto it.














'Dog and Bone' (from here)

Sometimes, especially with longer words, the whole expression is used. So, if someone asks you: "Would you Adam and Eve this?" you should encode it as "Would you believe it?". Although this slang originated from the East End of London, some of the expressions have become quite widespread in other parts of Britain, too. For example, the expression 'use your loaf' comes from 'loaf of bread' ( which means 'head' in rhyming slang).

Do this quiz to check and improve your rhyming slang knowledge:

Cockney Rhyming Slang » Test maker