Cockney slang is ‘brown bread’ poll shows
29 March 2012
Would you Adam and Eve it? The rhyming language so strongly associated with the nation’s capital may be losing its place in modern speech new research by the Museum of London reveals.
The survey tested 2,000 Britons, including 1,000 from London, on their knowledge of both Cockney and modern slang and usage in everyday conversation as well as attitudes towards slang.
Key findings:
• ‘apples and pears’ (stairs) was the most well-known cockney phrase (78%) but only used in the last six months by a tenth (9%) of respondents;
• the most-used cockney slang is the phrase ‘porky pies’ with 13% using it in recent times, while one in ten (11%) use the term ‘cream crackered’;
• 40% of people are convinced Cockney rhyming slang is dying out, and a third (33%) is sad at its fading;
• nearly two thirds (63%) of respondents think the Cockney slang is crucial to London’s identity;
• ‘OMG’ (oh em jee), ‘innit’ and ’jel’ all made the most used modern slang list;
• 53% knew ‘brown bread’ to mean ‘dead’ but just eight per cent use it regularly;
• a quarter (26%) incorrectly thought a ‘Bunsen burner’ was a kettle, while a third (34%) thought it a term for a fireman – just a third (35%) correctly knew it to mean money;
• it was common knowledge (88%) that ‘trouble and strife’ acts as a term for wife but only two per cent have dared utter the term recently. Almost all Britons (94%) knew ‘cream-crackered’ meant being tired.
Alex Werner, Head of History Collections at the Museum of London, said:
“For many people, Cockney rhyming slang is intrinsic to the identity of London. Portrayals of Cockney Londoners from Dickens’s novels to East Enders characters have popularised the London Cockney. However this research suggests that the Cockney dialect itself may not be enjoying the same level of popularity. Although strictly speaking a ‘Cockney’ is someone who was born within the sound of Bow-bell at St Mary-le-Bow, people from all corners of London identify themselves as being Cockney. The origins of Cockney slang reflects the diverse, immigrant community of London’s East End in the 19th century so perhaps its no surprise that other forms of slang are taking over as the cultural influences on the city change. Indeed not many people know that Cockney slang has changed massively from the days when it was characterised by back-to-front phrases like ‘on doog’ meaning ‘no good’. How London’s dialect will continue to change in the future is hard to say, but without a doubt it will always be a reflection of the city’s population.”
A Pearly King costume, often associated with Cockney Londoners, is on display in the Museum of London’s Galleries of Modern London which opened in 2010.
Other survey findings:
TOP 20 LEAST KNOWN COCKNEY RHYMING SLANG PHRASES
1. White Mice (ice)
2. Donkey’s ears (years)
3. Loop de loop (soup)
4. Custard and jelly (telly)
5. Teapot lids (kids)
6. Bacon and eggs (legs)
7. Vera Lynn (gin)
8. Tommy Tucker (supper)
9. Cain and Abel (table)
10. Weasel and Stoat (coat)
11. Davy Crockett (pocket)
12. Bricks and Mortar (daughter)
13. Deep fat friar (liar)
14. Bubble bath (laugh)
15. Pig’s ear (beer)
16. Lady Godiva (fiver)
17. Dickie bird (word)
18. Mother Hubbard (cupboard)
19. Bread and honey (money)
20. Daisy roots (boots)
TOP 20 MODERN SLANG PHRASES
1. Awesome
2. Bothered
3. Wicked
4. Oh em jee (OMG)
5. Innit
6. Jel
7. Epic fail
8. Chilling
9. Shut uuup
10. Lush
11. Reem
12. Totes
13. Sick
14. Obvs
15. Bang tidy
16. Safe
17. Standard
18. Amazeballs
19. Buff
20. True dat
