Those Whacky Cockneys

[louisev]

This morning at my office in southwest Britain, my colleague tells me he is going to make a call to a septic.

And I asked "What are you talking about?" with a mischievous grin he said "Don't you know what a septic is?"  and with complete bafflement I told him I didn't, and then he explained, "oh, well this is Cockney rhyming slang.  Don't you know that?"

This is how it works.

Septic refers to a septic TANK which rhymes with YANK and a YANK is an American.

He explained a few more of of the common ones to round out my education, which, according to Nigel my colleague, both terms in the rhyme are typically not used, only the non rhyming word of the pair, which implies, when spoken, the word that is supposed to be rhymed to.  I just found it bizarre and confusing.

Plates:  means Plates of MEAT which rhymes with FEET and it means:  FEET.

Frog:  means Frog and Toad which rhymes with ROAD and it means:  ROAD.

Apples: means Apples and Pears which rhymes with STAIRS and it means:  STAIRS.


Anyone else ever hear of this?  Is this the whackiest thing you have ever heard or WHAT?

[MaineWriter]

Once I finish talking to the septic, I am going to take my plates and hit the frog.

All I can think is, Kermit! Watch out!

[LauraGigs]

There's a Cockney rhyming slang thread here on Bettermost.  http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,11415.0.html

But yeah, to my yank ears it's a bit puzzling.  To be able to "get" these on the fly in conversation would take some hellacious practice . . .

[Jeff Wrangler]

I think I remember hearing or reading somewhere that one's trouble and strife is one's ... wife. 

[souxi]

I think I remember hearing or reading somewhere that one's trouble and strife is one's ... wife. 

That is quite correct Jeff. What would be wrong with you if you had a "dodgy strawberry"? 
What would you be doing if you were having a " dig in the grave" and what would you be doing if you were "brushing your railings"?
Answers on a postcard please.

[David In Indy]

That is quite correct Jeff. What would be wrong with you if you had a "dodgy strawberry"? 
What would you be doing if you were having a " dig in the grave" and what would you be doing if you were "brushing your railings"?
Answers on a postcard please.

I was watching the movie "To Sir With Love" with Sidney Poitier the other day, and one of the kids in the movie did this. He said somebody's house was "just up the frog". Sidney Poitier asked him what he meant by that, and he explained that Road rhymes with Toad, and Toad = Frog. Sidney give the young man a very confused look, so I don't think he quite understood the boy's explanation. But TSWL was made in 1967, so apparently this is something they have been doing in England for years. 

[Jeff Wrangler]

I was watching the movie "To Sir With Love" with Sidney Poitier the other day, and one of the kids in the movie did this. He said somebody's house was "just up the frog". Sidney Poitier asked him what he meant by that, and he explained that Road rhymes with Toad, and Toad = Frog. Sidney give the young man a very confused look, so I don't think he quite understood the boy's explanation. But TSWL was made in 1967, so apparently this is something they have been doing in England for years. 

Probably the Cockneys have been doing it for centuries.

I also think I remember reading that to be a true Cockney, you have to have been born within the sound of the bells of the church of St. Mary-le-Bow, but don't ask me where I might have read that!

And I wonder whether anybody has ever elucidated the origin of the word Cockney itself?

[fritzkep]

A cockney might compliment a woman on the beauty of her bristols. Bristol = Bristol City = titty.

[Lynne]

*bump*