{"id":2624,"date":"2020-03-03T12:19:41","date_gmt":"2020-03-03T20:19:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/educatedguesswork.com\/?page_id=2624"},"modified":"2025-08-31T17:48:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T00:48:32","slug":"cockney-rhyming-and-other-british-slang","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/educatedguesswork.com\/?page_id=2624","title":{"rendered":"Cockney Rhyming and other British Slang"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
As found in the dialogue and narration of James Haskell, London private detective<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

A very idiosyncratic lexicon of some British slang terms, mostly found while trying to understand the writing of P. B. Yuill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sample sentences in quotation marks are from Hazell Plays Solomon<\/em> [Sol<\/em>] & Hazell and the Menacing Jester<\/a><\/em> [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

all over the shop<\/strong> \u2013 everywhere in a confused manner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Her hands started nipping and rubbing me, all over the shop they were.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

apple<\/strong> \u2013 effrontery, cheek, brazenness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[also seen as apple sauce<\/strong>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“The rest of the staff just looked on while the three heavies clobbered him with the pick-handles but the old man had a lot of apple even at fifty and he puts up such a show he sees one of the team off\u2014the other two grab the lolly and scarper.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

berk<\/strong> \u2013 prat, jerk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “Berkeley Hunt” = “cunt”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“most of them berks can’t hardly speak the language let alone take you anywhere.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

bins<\/strong> \u2013 eyeglasses<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Her eyes were hidden behind the big dark bins and I couldn’t see if a night’s kip had improved them.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

bird<\/strong> \u2013 prison<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “bird-lime” = “time”, an almost forgotten construction (bird-lime was sticky stuff put on tree branches to trap birds)]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

(see do bird<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

blag<\/strong> \u2013 to con, to steal by trickery<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“he said it was easier blaggin’ money outa you two” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

boat-race<\/strong> \u2013 face<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[rhyming slang]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“With a boat-race like that he must have been belting other blokes all his life just to prove he was normal.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

boracic<\/strong> \u2013 broke, penniless<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “Boracic lint” = “skint”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Even after I stopped boosting the gin trade I still found myself boracic.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

boob<\/strong> \u2013 mistake<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“‘I made a big boob,’ I said, standing up.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

bottle it<\/strong> \u2013 to lose control of one’s bowels, hence, to lose one’s shit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(see also lose his bottle<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “bottle and glass” = “ass”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“So you’re bottling it by then and you tell me about the … set-up.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Brahms and Listz<\/strong> \u2013 pissed, drunk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[rhyming slang]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Beevers began to get a bit Brahms and Listz, if you know what I mean.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

brass<\/strong> \u2013 prostitute<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “brass flute”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“He’s living with some brass Islington way.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

brick<\/strong> \u2013 dependable person<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“She said I was a brick.
“At least I hoped she said brick.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

brief<\/strong> \u2013 ticket for an event<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“That first lot had tickets. Halfway up towards the twin domes we attracted about thirty Everton teenagers without briefs.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

bristols<\/strong> \u2013 tits, breasts, boobs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “Bristol City” = “titty”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Her bristols were a proper pair, like a real bosom.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

bung<\/strong> \u2013 bribe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’ll give him the opportunity to offer me a bung.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

bung<\/strong> \u2013 to carelessly put something somewhere<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You could bung a fiver into the Post Office every week, as if you was saving it.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

butcher’s<\/strong> \u2013 look<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “butcher’s hook” = “look”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Standing in front of the mirror I had another butcher’s at my face.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

carsi<\/strong> \u2013 bathroom, toilet<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[corruption of Italian ‘casa<\/em>\u2019, meaning ‘house’; also carsey<\/strong> or khazi<\/strong> (not used by Jim Hazell)]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“I went to the carsi. There was no soap but it didn’t matter” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

cash and carry<\/strong> \u2013 to commit suicide<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “cash and carry” = “hari-kari”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Those gents up there have a word for it, cash and carry, hari-kari.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

champers<\/strong> \u2013 champagne<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Have some champers, Jim, tuck in, good times are just around the corner.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

chancer<\/strong> \u2013 unscrupulous opportunist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Driving with glass dust in his eyes and a gale round his earholes and a bunch of chancers keeping warm in the back?” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

charver<\/strong> \u2013 to have sex with, to screw<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Polari]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Oh yeah, and by the way, mate, I might as well own up, I’ve been charvering your missus . . .” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

cobblers<\/strong> \u2013 nonsense<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “cobbler’s awls” = “balls”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“the usual story, ten thousand stinking’ hippies in tents chantin’ and freakin’ out, all that guru cobblers.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

cockle<\/strong> \u2013 \u00a310<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “cock and hen” = “ten”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“How does a cockle now and a long ‘un when I get paid off grab you?” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Corn Beef City<\/strong> \u2013 large council housing development, esp. Dagenham in East London<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from the idea that the residents could afford only corned beef]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“All the way from Corn Beef City.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

cotton on<\/strong> \u2013 to realize<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“simple really but few people cotton on till it’s too late \u2013 enjoy every minute because you’ll never get that particular minute back again.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

dekko<\/strong> \u2013 look, glance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Could I have a dekko at it?” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

dicky-bird<\/strong> \u2013 word<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[rhyming slang, usu. used in negative construction]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“I’ll not breathe a dicky-bird about you.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

do bird<\/strong> \u2013 to serve time in prison<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“They both ended up doing bird \u2013 you know, porridge, stir \u2013 prison, Mr Beevers.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

do porridge<\/strong> \u2013 to serve time in prison<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(see do bird<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

earwig<\/strong> \u2013 to eavesdrop<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“He had a quick look back up the stairs to make sure nobody was earwigging.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

fanny<\/strong> \u2013 lies, a story<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’d be giving you a lot of fanny if I said I could do anything.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

fanny merchant<\/strong> \u2013 fast talker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“He was a first class fanny merchant, I had to give him that.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

fill your boots<\/strong> \u2013 take as much as you want<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[origin uncertain]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“‘Go on, fill yer boots,’ he said loudly, sloshing into our glasses.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

fireman’s<\/strong> \u2013 nose<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “fireman’s hose” = “nose”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Two doors up a young gent came out wearing a tweed jacket and a brown trilby hat resting on his fireman’s.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

flannel<\/strong> \u2013 nonsense, bosh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Well, don’t quote me … my opinion is that Nicholas is one hundred per cent flannel.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

flog<\/strong> \u2013 to sell<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“the big rush to the turnstiles, the geezers flogging popcorn and hamburgers and early papers and rosettes and badges” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

gaff<\/strong> \u2013 domicile, residence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I skimmed his prison letter back in the empty basket and told myself that I’d better get a gaff of my own.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

ga<\/strong>rn \u2013 interjection of disbelief or negation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“‘Garn, it’s no bleedin’ different than here,’ growled the old man.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

give the elbow<\/strong> \u2013 fire; get rid of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“if pushed I could give truth the elbow quicker than a cabinet minister.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

graft<\/strong> \u2013 hard work<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m one of those na\u00efve sorts who does a fair day’s graft for a fair day’s greens.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

grass<\/strong> \u2013 to inform (on s.o.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We nailed the geezer all right \u2013 only he got so riled he grassed to the Inland Revenue about how our client was dodging tax in a big way.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

greens<\/strong> \u2013 money<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[either<\/em> from green color of \u00a31 notes, or<\/em> rhyming slang “greengage” = “wage” (though another source has the latter = “stage”)]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

(see graft<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

herbert<\/strong> \u2013 silly person, dimwit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“What would a common herbert like me know about suave living?” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Hobson’s choice<\/strong> \u2013 voice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[rhyming slang]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“You speak with your normal Hobson’s choice and they say beg votre pardon, foreigners and students and such, you know, university degrees and moldy clothes.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

hooray henry<\/strong> \u2013 supercilious upper class British man<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“hooray henries and their model birds rubbing shoulders with the newest pop stars that nobody gets time to hear of before their month of stardom is up” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

I should cocoa!<\/strong> \u2013 I should say so! No way!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[rhyming slang, usu. sarcastically negative]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Inflamed? I should cocoa. Towering Infernos!” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

ice-cream<\/strong> \u2013 geezer, fellow, gentleman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “ice-cream freezer” = “geezer”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Nah, must be some other ice-cream who looks like me. Gawd help him” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

iron tank<\/strong> \u2013 bank<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[rhyming slang]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“And at least this one had plenty of readies, probably more in his hip-pocket than I had in the iron tank.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

iron turbans<\/strong> \u2013 ??!??<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from ???]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“I’ve got a touch of the iron turbans \u2013 sorry if I got a bit overwrought last night, few drinks, you know how it is.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

khyber<\/strong> \u2013 ass<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “Khyber pass”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“He was no Fittipaldi, the hardest part was keeping far enough back not to bang him up the khyber.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

kick into touch<\/strong> \u2013 to avoid, to stop someone or something<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from rugby, and you really need know no more]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“He spent half the night telling me dead-cert ways of kicking Keith O’Rourke into touch.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

kip<\/strong> \u2013 bed; nap<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I only caught the last steady in kip with her bleeding teenage cousin the other night.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

kip<\/strong> \u2013 to nap, to sleep<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’d kipped down on their sofa for the night rather than move their three kids about.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

lagging<\/strong> \u2013 prison sentence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[usu. of 3 years, though 2 or 5 years are sometimes meant]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“But I won’t actually make my move until I see if I can find that nurse\u2014there’s always a chance she’ll cough and I won’t have to risk a lagging.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

lolly<\/strong> \u2013 money<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You put up the lolly, didn’t you? You must own the most of it.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

long ‘un<\/strong> \u2013 \u00a3100<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(see cockle<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

lose his bottle<\/strong> \u2013 to lose control of one’s bowels, hence, to lose one’s shit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “bottle and glass” = “ass”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“In the car going to Chelsea he really began to lose his bottle.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

melodies<\/strong> \u2013 fingers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “melody lingers” = “fingers”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“I gave it up since I saw you last, didn’t have long enough melodies for it, did I?” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

minces<\/strong> \u2013 eyes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “mince pies” = “eyes”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Lou Nicholas, Jewish-like but the public school sort, smooth as a bun penny, stare at you with his big blue minces and tell you the most diabolical lyin’ crap you ever did hear.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

mob-handed<\/strong> \u2013 with a large group of people, with a gang<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“if he’s using amateurs he’ll have to send you mob-handed next time” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

moggy<\/strong> \u2013 [informal rather than slang] cat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“he steals cats for the cheap fur trade. King of the moggy mob, that’s him.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

mother’s ruin<\/strong> \u2013 gin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It was like walking into the middle of a TV commercial, maybe that one for gin where they’re all young and lovely and rich and nobody gets pissed although they’re sloshing back enough mother’s ruin to frighten a fish-porter.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

muggins<\/strong> \u2013 fool, dupe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“it began to look as if he was fated to be Muggins no matter how hard he worked at being Mr Big.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

mush<\/strong> \u2013 fellow, mate, pal<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“here, mush, give us a butcher’s at yer bankbook!” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

nark<\/strong> \u2013 to annoy, to irritate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Them bastards in the office see us picking’ up fares on our own account they get a bit narked.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Niagaras<\/strong> \u2013 testicles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “Niagara falls” = “balls”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“He let out the most awful yelp and jabbed his big knee up into my Niagaras.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

nick<\/strong> \u2013 police station; jail<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Better tell her to ring the Chelsea nick, keep it all under one roof.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

nicker<\/strong> \u2013 one pound sterling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[always singular even for larger amounts, save in construction “pair of knickers” = \u00a32]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Did I want a color illustrated book about forensic pathology at seven nicker?” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

nob<\/strong> \u2013 wealthy person<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“I suppose we all used to see those big cars taking the nobs to football matches and wish we were in them.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

nobbins<\/strong> \u2013 money, esp. coins collected by buskers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Instead of waiting for people to bung in the nobbins he was choosing victims and dancing along the pavement in front of them \u2013 backwards.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

noddy<\/strong> \u2013 fool<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“An Eton accent doesn’t necessarily mean the guy is a noddy.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

noodles<\/strong> \u2013 words [???], nothings [???]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[????]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“On the other side of the glass this loving couple were leaning over the table to whisper soft noodles at each other.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

nut<\/strong> \u2013 to head-butt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I nutted him on the nose and he didn’t seem to feel it.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Old Bill<\/strong> \u2013 policeman; the police force<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“‘You’re the Old Bill,’ he said accusingly, looking at me sideways.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

on his tod<\/strong> \u2013 on his own, all alone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “Tod Sloan” (once famous American jockey) = “own”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“I ended up at the Westbourne Grove A B C seeing Chinatown<\/em> on my tod.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

on my Tod Sloan<\/strong> \u2013 on my own, all alone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “Tod Sloan” (once famous American jockey) = “own”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“I never like being in boozers on my Tod Sloan.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

on the knocker<\/strong> \u2013 going door-to-door soliciting<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“From that distance I couldn’t see his face too well but he didn’t look like a Chelsea vicar on the knocker for the fabric fund.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Perry Masons<\/strong> \u2013 cross-examination, hostile questioning, third degree<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Don’t start giving me the Perry Masons.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

plates<\/strong> \u2013 feet<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “plates of meat” = “feet”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“I hadn’t noticed before just how big his plates actually were, size thirteen maybe.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

ponce<\/strong> \u2013 sissy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“it makes me bloody sick to think of ponces like that spending more in a night than most people have to bring up their families” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

pony<\/strong> \u2013 \u00a325<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This is just a job to me, Mrs Beevers, I’m getting paid a pony a day to stop these things happening, that’s all.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

porridge<\/strong> \u2013 prison<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[allegedly from the poor fare served there]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

(see do porridge<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

pull a stroke<\/strong> \u2013 to pull a fast one, to put one over on, to deceive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Cor, pullin’ a stroke on your own flesh an’ blood!” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

punter<\/strong> \u2013 customer, esp. at a pub or of a prostitute<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“he always works at night, gets more out of punters goin’ home pissed from the West End.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

put the frighteners<\/strong> \u2013 intimidate, threaten violence to get one’s way<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Don’t worry about your Dad and me, son, he was trying to put the frighteners in but we was all right.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

put the mockers on<\/strong> \u2013 to jinx, to lessen (the chances of)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[possibly of Australian origin]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“I hate them creepin’ Jesuses puttin’ the mockers on the party spirit, know what I mean?” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

rabbit, rabbiting<\/strong> \u2013 talk, talking<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “rabbit and pork” = “talk”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“At the other end of the basins three small Japanese geezers in identical dark suits and sky black haircuts were rabbiting away to each other.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

railings<\/strong> \u2013 teeth<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I left my tongue slide round my steak-polished railings.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

readies<\/strong> \u2013 money, cash, bank notes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“They always have a bale of readies for impressing you but you’re never too sure how they made it in the first place.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

reggie<\/strong> \u2013 rear end<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “Reg Grundies” = “undies” (Reg Grundy was famous Australian TV producer)]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“He was pulling away from the kerb before my reggie reached the upholstery.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

the ring of confidence<\/strong> \u2013 [not slang] advertising slogan for Colgate dental cream<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“That’s why I need the ring of confidence.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

rozzer<\/strong> \u2013 policeman, (pl.) the police<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You had the feeling the rozzers would nab you for not wearing a clean shirt and a tie.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

St. Louis Blues<\/strong>, saint loueys<\/strong> \u2013 shoes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[duh]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Soon as I got a few quid ahead of the game I’d be puffing 6-inch Havanas to go with my St Louis Blues from Bond Street.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

saucepan lids<\/strong> \u2013 kid<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[duh]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“It’s not the first stray question that comes to mind, is it, what’s your feelings on having your saucepan lid confiscated by a total stranger.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

scotches<\/strong> \u2013 legs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “Scotch eggs”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“While I was down there I had a gander at Mrs. Gunning’s nyloned scotches.” [Sol<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Scouse<\/strong> \u2013 [not slang] dialect of Liverpool and of Merseyside county; thus, resident of that locale<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“As you’d expect from Scouses they were a bit livelier.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

shattered<\/strong> \u2013 exhausted, dead tired<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“‘I’m shattered,’ he said. ‘Why the bloody hell would anybody go to all this trouble?'” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

shop<\/strong> \u2013 to inform on, to drop a dime on someone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“One thing about the educated, they love shopping each other.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

skyrocket<\/strong> \u2013 pocket<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[rhyming slang]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“He kept forgetting things and then finding them and then forgetting which skyrocket he’d put them in.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

slag off<\/strong> \u2013 to insult or to criticize s.o.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Every so often he came creeping round and said we ought to go partners and every time I would slag him off.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

spiv<\/strong> \u2013 petty criminal, esp. black marketer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Those kids were spot on, we were the smart boys London is famous for, well-dressed spies who get all that’s going and sneer at na\u00efve punters who sweat their guts out in the black-pudding belt.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

sproncy<\/strong> \u2013 fashionable<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“They pay sixty grand to live in a sproncy little street like this and then they rush off to the country?” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Stag<\/strong> \u2013 [not slang] Triumph convertible 4-seat coup\u00e9 of the 1970s<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I got in the Stag and headed for Ravenscourt Park by way of Park Lane, Bayswater Road and Shepherd’s Bush Green.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

strides<\/strong> \u2013 pants, trousers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“What’s a pair of strides and a jacket and a few aches and pains against that kind of money?” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

stroppy<\/strong> \u2013 belligerent, hard to deal with<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“‘let’s you and me get in the motor and have a quiet chat, eh? Only don’t get stroppy with me \u2013 all right?'” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

swish<\/strong> \u2013 fashionable, posh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“and you got a very swish flat there in Inverson Court” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

taking the micky<\/strong> \u2013 to make fun of someone, to be joking<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[from “Mickey Bliss” = “piss”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“He frowned at me, thinking maybe I was taking the micky.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

taking the piss<\/strong> \u2013 to joke, to mock<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(see taking the micky<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

tinkle<\/strong> \u2013 phone call<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’ve got somebody here actually, can I give you a tinkle later on, Harry?” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

titch<\/strong> \u2013 small person, small child<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I wish you wouldn’t call me Titch. I’m not your kid brother.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

trick-cyclist<\/strong> \u2013 psychiatrist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[verbal derangement of “psychiatrist”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“I know it sounds crazy \u2013 I went to a trick-cyclist a few months back, he told me I was insecure!” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

turtles<\/strong> \u2013 mad in love [???]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[??? unknown if correct, but “turtle doves” = “gloves”, thus maybe transference to “love” ???]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“You’re so turtles about her you’ll shell out another fifteen grand to keep her safe.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

twig<\/strong> \u2013 to realize, to catch on<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“By the time I twigged I was in as deep as him” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

weigh off<\/strong> \u2013 to sentence to prison<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If you don’t get him weighed off now he’ll be on your back again soon as he feels better.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

whack<\/strong> \u2013 portion, esp. a large share<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Once you’re tangling with a bloke who’s done his whack on the cobbles you either forget you’re a decent chap or you end up a decent crippled chap.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

wire into<\/strong> \u2013 to eat heartily, to dig in<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The rest of you \u2013 please wire into the grub, plenty of champers left.” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

wotcha<\/strong> \u2013 a greeting, “hey”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Wotcha, Bobby \u2013 no, don’t move” [MJ<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As found in the dialogue and narration of James Haskell, London private detective A very idiosyncratic lexicon of some British slang terms, mostly found while trying to understand the writing of P. B. Yuill. Sample sentences in quotation marks are from Hazell Plays Solomon [Sol] & Hazell and the Menacing Jester [MJ] all over the … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Cockney Rhyming and other British Slang”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2624","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/educatedguesswork.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/educatedguesswork.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/educatedguesswork.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educatedguesswork.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educatedguesswork.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2624"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/educatedguesswork.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5031,"href":"https:\/\/educatedguesswork.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2624\/revisions\/5031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/educatedguesswork.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}