Plates, Jam Jars, and Mince Pies...

To the uninitiated, the title of this post looks like a collection of items one might find in the kitchen.  To a Londoner, they are anything but...

The term Cockney is familiar to some Americans, without really knowing what it is.  It is true that the word has come to be used to describe ANY Londoner, but the original meaning is far more specific.


A true Cockney is born "within sound of Bow Bells", the bells of the church of St. Mary-le-Bow, in Cheapside, in London.  This is not to be confused with the area of Bow in East London.  The term is also used to describe a curious language that developed in the area.

While the origins are not 100% clear, Cockney Rhyming Slang, as it is popularly known, is believed to date from the mid-19th century.  Neither are we sure of the purpose, whether it was used by local criminals to confuse police, by traders to communicate amongst themselves, or simply a way to confuse non-locals!

Naturally, as with any language or dialect, it is constantly evolving, but I will - with a couple of exceptions - concentrate on the more traditional terms.  As indicated by description "Rhyming Slang", the basis of the language is the use of rhymes.  However, many of the terms do not use an entire rhyme, simply the first word.

I know you must be totally confused now, so I'll discuss some specifics.  The title of the post named three examples, with one from the 20th century; jam jar.  A jam jar is another way of saying "car".  Jam jar - car.  You see?  I know, it may seem ridiculous, but I will continue...

Plates is short for plates of meat, which is how a Cockney would talk about "feet".  The full term is rarely used.  Mince pies means your "eyes", and is not usually abbreviated.  Please don't ask me to explain why certain terms are abbreviated, and others are not.

Incidentally, jam jar is a term that has been adopted into common English usage!  The company has now ceased trading, I think, but the website jamjar.com was used by the UK's largest automobile leasing company!

With modern-day rhyming slang, many rhymes have been concocted to describe bodily functions, and vulgar and taboo subjects: I will not be touching those on this page, although you can find them elsewhere online.

So, here is a SHORT list of traditional and popular Cockney Rhyming Slang.  I have indicated where the abbreviated term is more common, although some (like dog and bone) use both the short and long versions :

Apples and pears - stairs
Barnet (Barnet fair) - hair
Boat Race - face
Butcher's (butcher's hook) - look
China (china plate) - mate
Dog (or dog and bone) - telephone
North and south - mouth
Pork pies (or "porkies") - lies (not to be confused with mince pies)
Rosy (or Rosy Lee) - tea (the drink)
Trouble (or trouble and strife) - wife
Two and eight - state (emotional distress)  Used to describe someone in a
                         "bit of a two and eight", or a "right old two and eight".
Whistle (whistle and flute) - suit

Like jam jar, neither butcher's nor pork pies are confined to the true Cockney, and are not rare in modern English.

My final example is perhaps the most familiar of 20th century rhyming slang; a Ruby (after the popular Irish singer from the 1950's, Ruby Murray).  Thanks to the prevalence of Indian restaurants in the UK, a Ruby is another name for a curry!