What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? It's complicated and its origins are unclear. Learn everything we know about it today in this classic episode.
AI Summary
# Cockney Rhyming Slang: A Deep Dive into London's Most Confusing Language Game
Join Josh and Chuck as they unpack the wonderfully weird world of cockney rhyming slang, a 150-year-old linguistic phenomenon that's still thriving on the streets of London today. From the mysterious origins with traveling street vendors to how phrases like "apples and pears" secretly mean "stairs," this episode explores how an informal, ever-evolving slang survived for over a century despite never being formally documented. You'll learn why it probably didn't originate with criminals trying to confuse cops, discover which celebrities' names keep the slang alive, and find out why linguists have largely ignored this fascinating folk language—plus some hilarious attempts to decode what the heck British people are actually saying when they speak this way.
Alfie
1966
PG
1h 54m
★ 6.5
"You got to see the movie Alfie. Maybe that's who it was. It might have been Michael Cain. — Chuck suggested Alfie as a Michael Caine film in discussion of cockney accents in movies."
— Chuck
"On the podcast, Hey Dude the 90s called, David Lasher and Christine Taylor, stars of the cult classic show Hey Dude, bring you back to the days of slip dresses and choker necklaces. — Referenced in advertisement as a cult classic TV show from the 90s."
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
1998
R
1h 45m
★ 8.1
"My big exposure to cockney rhyming slang is lock stock in Two Smoking Barrels for Snatch, which I think are both directed by Guy Richie, right? — Chuck mentioned this Guy Ritchie film as an example of exposure to cockney rhyming slang."
— Chuck
Ocean's Eleven
2001
1h 56m
★ 7.5
"And then I guess, what's his name? Don Cheadle, a little bit in Ocean's Eleven. Sure. — Josh mentioned Don Cheadle appearing in Ocean's Eleven in discussion of cockney representation in films."
— Josh
Snatch
2000
R
1h 43m
★ 7.8
"My big exposure to cockney rhyming slang is lock stock in Two Smoking Barrels for Snatch, which I think are both directed by Guy Richie, right? — Chuck mentioned this Guy Ritchie film alongside Lock Stock as examples of cockney rhyming slang in movies."
— Chuck
The Hangover
2009
1h 40m
★ 7.3
"I like The Hangover. How would you, like The Limey and The Hangover, same level? — Josh used this movie as a point of comparison for the quality of The Limey."
— Josh
The Limey
1999
R
1h 29m
★ 6.5
"I did recently rewatch The Limey. Yes, for Casey's benefit. Yeah, the great, great movie from Steven Soderbergh. — Chuck mentioned rewatching this film and compared it to The Hangover as a similar quality movie."
— Chuck
The Sweeney
1975
TV-PG
★ 8.1
"There were other shows not on your Nelly and the Sweeney and the titles of both of those shows come from actual Cockney rhyming slang as well. — Josh mentioned this police drama whose title is based on cockney rhyming slang for flying squad."
— Josh
The Two Ronnies
1971
★ 7.7
"I watched one episode of The Two Ronnies where this priest at a sermon in Cockney rhyming slang. It was very funny. — Chuck mentioned watching this BBC comedy sketch show and seeing a priest speaking in cockney rhyming slang."
— Chuck
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