Ok, this is part one in what may be a series on Colloquial English – that’s English English, not American English, btw.

Somewhat illogically, I’m going to start with rhyming slang – and a subdivision of rhyming slang at that … these are contractions where the rhyming bit is omitted. Historically, this mode of speech was first used (afaik) by British POWs to confuse the hell out of their German guards during WWII.

Rhyming slang tends to be used most in London, slightly less in the South East of England, and slightly less so elsewhere, but just about anyone anywhere in the UK would understand these examples - I’m not making this up, honest.


Let’s start with “Nuremburgs”, “Chalfonts”, or “Farmers”.
These contractions equate to ”Nuremburg Trials”, “Chalfont St Giles”, or “Farmer Giles” - meaning piles (haemorrhoids)
Example use: “Fetch me that rubber ring would you? Me Chalfonts are giving me jip”.

“Emmas” or “Sigmunds” = Emma Freuds or Sigmund Freuds = haemorrhoids.

A “Barclays”, a “Jodrell”, or a “J Arthur” = Barclays Bank, Jodrell bank (a listening station), or J Arthur Rank (film production co.) = a wank
Example use: “Me mam caught me having a J Arthur!”. Not to be confused with a J … which is something else

“Council” or “Gary” = “Council Gritter” or “Gary Glitter” = 5h1tter = the anus, or a toilet, depending on context.
For example, compare “That curry’s gone through me faster than a nun through customs – me Gary is red raw” with “Sorry I couldn’t get to the phone – I was visiting the council”

While we’re still on matters lavatorial:
“Barry” = Barry White – 5h1te
“Brad” or “Eartha” = Brad Pitt / Eartha Kitt = 5h1t
“Ivana” or “Forrest” = Ivana Trump / Forrest Gump = dump

Note that despite the use of “Ivana”, a “Donald” is not the same: Donald = Donald Duck = work it out for yourself

And also:
“Gypsy's” = “Gypsy's Kiss” = p155.
As in “Another beer?” “Why aye man, burrem gan furra Gypsy's forst”



Moving away from the vulgar (& if you thought those were bad, you should have seen the rejects):

“Ayrton” = Ayrton Senna = a tenner (a £10 note – so should be equivalent to $17 or so at current exchange rates, but actually has only $10 worth of spending power).

“Syrup” = syrup of figs = a wig (toupee).

“Whistle” = whistle and flute = suit. For example “Nice whistle! Interview?” “I wish -I’m up before the beak this afternoon”.

“Ruby” = “Ruby Murray” (a particularly successful racing greyhound afaik {that’s a dog, not a bus}) = curry

“Scooby” = Scooby Doo = Subaru, or clue, depending on context (for example: “Can you remember where I parked me Scooby?” “Nah mate, haven’t got a Scooby” ).

“Butcher's” = butcher's hook = look

“Veras” = Vera Lynns = skins (handrolling cigarette papers).

Wow...English English.

Thanks for the post, JE. I've always wondered about some of the phrases that I heard here and there, especially the "J Arthur". Hey, you have your slang, I have mine.

For example...

Yunt'tu - "Hey, I'm going up to the house...yunttu?"

Sarah - Not to be confused with the female name, but rather..."Hey, sarah beer in the fridge?"

Au'ight - "Sounds good to me", "Au'ight, let's go then".

Wharsh - "My clothes are ditry so I gotta wharsh them soon".

Modem - "Those quail just popped up and I modem down".

and last but not least...

European - "Hey, watch where you point that thing...European on my boots!"

Rob

Edit: I like the Scooby term, btw.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jonny English “Council” or “Gary” = “Council Gritter” or “Gary Glitter” = 5h1tter = the anus, or a toilet, depending on context.

LOL! That is intrinsically funny as h311.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jonny English “Veras” = Vera Lynns = skins (handrolling cigarette papers).

Gives new meaning to:

"Vera, Vera.... what has become of you? Does anybody else in here feel the way I do?"

Friday's are good for most people for they can pick up there Chicken's Neck and get closer to pay off the jam jar or buy a new whistle and flute !!

Quote: Originally Posted by NoSlak Friday's are good for most people for they can pick up there Chicken's Neck and get closer to pay off the jam jar or buy a new whistle and flute !!

Ummmmmm, ok?!?

NOW I follow that line from Oceans 11 where the British explosives expert says "We're in Barney!". The Americans give him a blank look, so he explains, "Barney Rubble". Still blank. "TROUBLE!"

in england if u say to someone "hey, nice fannypack!" ur likely to get slapped or beaten up.

“Council” or “Gary” = “Council Gritter” or “Gary Glitter” = 5h1tter = the anus, or a toilet, depending on context.
For example, compare “That curry’s gone through me faster than a nun through customs – me Gary is red raw” with “Sorry I couldn’t get to the phone – I was visiting the council”

HAHAHAHAHA Nice post! I love regional dialect.


godfoot: we think alot alike man... This was the first thing I though when I read it, too. Not the first time this has happened, either.

Quote: Gives new meaning to: "Vera, Vera.... what has become of you? Does anybody else in here feel the way I do?"

Well, you know what they say, "Great minds (or demented ones) think alike."

Holy Crap is that ever twisted!

The closest thing we have to a reqional adaptation of english is the dialects spoken in Newfoundland. Pretty tough to understand.