Cockney rhyming slang is a form of English slang which originated in the East End of London. Many of its expressions have passed into common language, and the creation of new ones is no longer restricted to Cockneys.
Rhyming slang developed as a way of obscuring the meaning of sentences to those who did not understand the slang, though it remains a matter of speculation whether this was a linguistic accident, or whether it was developed intentionally to assist criminals or to maintain a particular community.
Rhyming slang works by replacing the word to be obscured with the first word of a phrase that rhymes with that word. For instance, "face" would be replaced by "boat", because face rhymes with "boat race". Similarly "feet" becomes "plates" ("plates of meat"), and "money" is "bread" (a very common usage, from "bread and honey"). Sometimes the full phrase is used, for example "Currant Bun" to mean "The Sun" (often referring to the British Tabloid Newspaper of that name). There is no hard and fast rule for this, and you just have to know whether a particular expression is always shortened, never shortened, or can be used either way.
Rhyming slang developed as a way of obscuring the meaning of sentences to those who did not understand the slang, though it remains a matter of speculation whether this was a linguistic accident, or whether it was developed intentionally to assist criminals or to maintain a particular community.
Rhyming slang works by replacing the word to be obscured with the first word of a phrase that rhymes with that word. For instance, "face" would be replaced by "boat", because face rhymes with "boat race". Similarly "feet" becomes "plates" ("plates of meat"), and "money" is "bread" (a very common usage, from "bread and honey"). Sometimes the full phrase is used, for example "Currant Bun" to mean "The Sun" (often referring to the British Tabloid Newspaper of that name). There is no hard and fast rule for this, and you just have to know whether a particular expression is always shortened, never shortened, or can be used either way.
by Santi July 28, 2005
Get the cockney rhyming slang mug.A Ji'ore phrase meaning gang or crew. This phrase is also used to swear on something, like "on my mama" I didn't steal his chips.... but instead, on "cocknem" I just slept outside last night. If you don't know who to swear on, just put it on cocknem and no one will know who you speaking on. For short, just say on cock.
"On cocknem grave I just robbed his brother for $1,000 dollars." "I put that on cocknem that little boi ain't boutta do shit.
by MediumJ1 May 29, 2019
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Cockny
• cocknyah
• cocky
• cocknose
• cockeyed
• cockeyes
• cockney
• cocknocker
• cockeysville middle school
• cocknballtorture
A person known for being overly confident in order to brush aside the fact that his/her penis is small. In other words, he's compensating for something.
You know that douche Jack? Jenny screwed him the other day and found out he's just a Cocky McShortcock.
by Bobby Bobbinson March 31, 2008
Get the Cocky McShortcock mug.by MikeHunt234 October 28, 2012
Get the cocky socky mug.A gentleman of small stature who acts like a dick. Typically has a napoleon complex, which may be remedied by driving a large vehicle or owning a horse.
by Vactory August 8, 2020
Get the Cocknut mug.by Big Nigga Is Poopin October 31, 2019
Get the Boo Cocky mug.Literally, a person born within earshot of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow church in what is now the City of London. However, technically speaking there can be no cockneys born after 1945 since the bells were destroyed by German bombs during WWII.
Today the term has expanded to encompass not only those from East London specifically but from London in general. The latter tends to be attributed by non-Londoners, stemming from their ignorance of the true meaning of the word.
Today the term has expanded to encompass not only those from East London specifically but from London in general. The latter tends to be attributed by non-Londoners, stemming from their ignorance of the true meaning of the word.
by hux May 31, 2003
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