Cockney
Jewels are also available at Culture Label, Saatchi Gallery,
Supermarket Sarah and Guts for Garters.
COCKNEY
= RHYMING SLANG
THE
BROAD BEAN = THE QUEEN
Cockneys
are "working-class" inhabitants of London. But according
to tradition, the strict definition is limited to those born
within earshot
(generally taken to be three miles) of the Bow bells, in
other words the bells of St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside.
Formerly
it included the City, Bethnal Green, Stepney, Shoreditch,
Whitechapel, Finsbury, and Hackney although according to the
legend of Dick Whittington,
the bells could be heard from as far away as Highgate. Rhyming slang
developed as a way of obscuring the meaning of sentences to
those who did not understand
the slang. It was developed intentionally to assist criminals or to
maintain a particular community. Cockney speakers have a distinctive
accent and
dialect, and frequently use Cockney rhyming slang.
EXAMPLES:
Old broad bean = The Queen
Apples and pears = Stairs ("Get up them apples!")
Barnet Fair = Hair ("What’s a matter with yer Barnet")
Frog and toad = Road ("I was crossing the frog")
Pig's Ear = Beer
Adam and Eve = Believe
Berlin Walls = Balls
Tom Foolery = Jewellery
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