Difficulty : Medium-Hard Get 5/10 correct to pass the quiz

Personal invitation to our daily quiz email

Because you're a loyal returning player, we hereby invite you to our exclusive
daily quiz email which features 40 fresh quizzes every single day.

The subscription is 100% free and can easy be unsubscribed with a single click at any time you want.

Welcome to a delightful journey through ten intriguing trivia questions, each pointing to a fascinating slice of British rhyming slang. This article will not only answer each question but also explore the history, cultural nuance, and usage of these whimsical expressions. Rhyming slang, a linguistic quirk that originated in London’s East End, has charmed and confused listeners for centuries. Let’s dive in!

1. Bread and Honey means :
The phrase Bread and Honey is classic Cockney rhyming slang for money. In this form of slang, the actual rhyming word (honey for money) is often dropped, leaving just bread. You might hear someone say, I’m short on bread this week, actually meaning they’re low on cash. Interestingly, bread has entered mainstream English, especially in the 1960s and 70s, becoming a popular informal term for money even outside the UK.

The use of bread in this context reflects the importance of money for basic sustenance, just like bread is a staple food. This connection is a perfect example of how rhyming slang both disguises and highlights meaning in a playful way.

2. Raspberry tart means :
Here’s a cheeky one! Raspberry tart is rhyming slang for fart. But in true Cockney fashion, the actual word tart is usually left off, and only raspberry is used. In fact, blowing a raspberry — making a rude noise with the lips — is derived directly from this phrase.

The phrase not only showcases the humor and subtlety of rhyming slang but also how these playful terms have seeped into everyday English. The next time someone mentions raspberry in a humorous context, you’ll know exactly what they mean.

3. Dinky Doos means :
Dinky Doos is Cockney rhyming slang for shoes. The rhyme is clear and direct: Dinky Doos rhymes with shoes. In London’s markets, you might hear a street vendor calling out, Get your Dinky Doos here! The word dinky also carries connotations of something small, cute, or neat, which adds another layer of charm to the phrase.


4. Cows and Kisses means :
This endearing expression means missus, referring to one’s wife or girlfriend. Cows and Kisses rhymes with missus, and is typically abbreviated in conversation to just cows. For example, I’m off home to the cows would mean someone is heading home to their wife.

The affection embedded in this playful phrase is a testament to the warmth and wit of Cockney slang. It reflects the everyday life and relationships of the people who invented and popularized these sayings.

5. Hank Marvin means :
This one is a more modern addition to the Cockney lexicon. Hank Marvin is rhyming slang for starving. Hank Marvin was a famous British musician, guitarist of The Shadows. The phrase is often used as, I’m Hank, or I’m absolutely Hank Marvin! meaning, I’m absolutely starving!

This example also demonstrates how rhyming slang evolves, incorporating names from popular culture. The humor here lies in the unexpected rhyme and the fun in referencing a celebrity in everyday conversation.


6. Round the Houses means :
Round the Houses is slang for routes, particularly circuitous or indirect ones. It’s often used in the phrase going round the houses, meaning to take a long or indirect route to a destination or to explain something in a roundabout way.

For instance, if someone is telling a story but takes forever to get to the point, you might say, Stop going round the houses and get to the point! The imagery here is of literally traveling past many houses instead of taking a direct path.

7. Elephant’s Trunk means :
Elephant’s Trunk is Cockney rhyming slang for drunk. The rhyme is straightforward, and in conversation, you might just hear elephants. For example, He was absolutely elephants last night, meaning he was very drunk.

This term is a lively way to describe overindulgence in alcohol, and like many rhyming slang terms, it adds a playful twist to otherwise mundane or potentially negative situations.


8. Plates of Meat means :
Plates of Meat rhymes with feet. This expression is often shortened to plates. In Cockney speech, someone might say, My plates are killing me, meaning their feet are sore.

The imagery is vivid and reflects the working-class roots of rhyming slang, where sore feet were a common complaint among those who spent long hours on their feet. It’s a colorful way of expressing everyday aches and pains.

9. Loaf of Bread means :
Loaf of Bread is rhyming slang for head. Once again, the phrase is typically shortened, so you might hear, Use your loaf! which means, Use your head!

This piece of slang is especially popular among older generations in London and has been widely adopted across the UK. It’s a gentle admonition to think carefully or use common sense.

10. Baked Bean means :
Finally, Baked Bean is Cockney rhyming slang for queen. The rhyme is clear, and the term is used in contexts referring to the British monarch. For example, The Baked Bean is visiting today, would mean the queen is making an appearance.

This phrase illustrates the irreverence and playful respect that Cockneys have for authority and tradition, using humor to refer to even the highest in the land.

---

Conclusion
These ten trivia questions have taken us on a tour of the rich and playful world of Cockney rhyming slang. Each phrase is more than just a linguistic puzzle — it’s a window into the culture, humor, and history of London and beyond. Whether you’re looking to baffle your friends or simply deepen your appreciation for the creativity of everyday speech, these expressions are sure to add a bit of flavor to your conversations.

So next time someone mentions their plates are sore or they’re short on bread, you’ll know exactly what they mean — and perhaps you’ll even have a few new phrases of your own to share!