Recently I have been asked questions about some of the lingo on my blog, especially from those outside of the UK. So I thought I would prepare a short list of slang for you to use as a ‘jargon-buster’ which may help to decipher some of my colloquialisms.
Rhyming slang is used widely in London, and you need to understand the concept especially if you want to understand Danny Dyer in Eastenders. Basically words that rhyme with the word you want to say are used…and often the word that actually rhymes is removed altogether (unrhyming slang), and you have to work it out!
Here a 20 popular cockney rabbit terms; (Rabbit and pork…talk)
1)”She’s a right old three wheeler” (Three wheel trike – Dyke /Lesbian)
2) “He don’t fancy girls, he’s a Perry” (Perry Como- Homo)
3) “He was hit by a bullet from a Billie” (Billie Piper- Sniper)
4) “If you can’t get home, I’ll give you a Charlie”. (Charlie Pride- Ride)
5) “Im really tired, Im going for a feather” (Feather and Flip -Kip)
6) “Look at that oil rig he’s wearing!” (Oil Rig-Wig)
7) “Pint of Lager please, I’ve got a right Geoff Hurst on”. (Geoff Hurst- Thirst)
8) “Stop crying and dry your Britney’s”. (Britney Spears -Tears)
9) “You’ve got chocolate all over ya Boat”. (Boat Race -Face)
10) “Im santa’d mate!” (Santa’s Grotto -Blotto/Drunk)
11) “She’s got a nice pair of Bristols.” (Bristol City- Titty)
12) “Blimey, It don’t half pen and ink in here!”(Pen and Ink- Stink)
13) “You heard about George Michael?..he’s brown bread! (Brown Bread- Dead)
14) “Had the Vauxhall Novas knock on my door last night.” ( Vauxhall Novas- Jehovas Witnesses)
15) “There are some right brasses out tonight!” (Brass Flute- Prostitute)
16) “Lend us a Pavarotti!” (Tenor/ Tenner/Ten pound)
17) “Shut that bleeding Roger!” (Roger Moore- Door)
18) “He got kicked in the fruit and nuts.” (Fruit and Nuts- Guts)
19) “Do us a cheesy!” (Cheesy Quaver -favour)
20) “He aint got a job, he’s on the Ashley!” (Ashley Cole- Dole)
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I almost wish you’d done this as a quiz, I would have failed spectacularly lol
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lol I got most of it but I don’t know what “Kip” is?
Is it bad that the Vauxhall Novas- Jehovah Witnesses will only come to my house once and then they never come back?
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A kip is a 😴 sleep ! You are definitely lucky with the Vauxhalls!!
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sleep 😉 got you. The “Vauxhalls” always say they want to talk about Jesus. I say YA! me too, and I start talking about Him. They leave and never come back!??!
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Brilliant
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😉
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This is amazing. So, when you say you have to figure it out, does that mean that this is universal slang in London (and non-Londoners need to figure it out) or that people just make up slang that rhymes as they go and you are forever working it out in your head how to rhyme to figure it out?
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This is all pretty universal slang in London….that non-Londoners have to use their loaf a bit to understand!
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Ah gotcha 😉
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Love this 🙂 ‘Brown Bread’ is used in Dublin too I think.
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Haha I love 7 & 8. I’m so going to drop those into conversation asap.
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My husband is obsessed with Danny Dyer (he’ll love this!)
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This is going to come in very handy when in London for the Bloggers Bash. 😀 Thanks, Matt.
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I’m bookmarking this post so if I ever write a character from the UK…I’ll have the lingo down! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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I’m going to try some of these out in Belgium!
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Ha ha Good luck
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Love, love, LOVE this list!!! 😉 Cher xo
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Didn’t get even one of them. Trying not to feel like just one more dense Yank ….
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And I thought American slang was confusing…
At least I can finally type spotted dick without giggling.
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