British English Slang – Dog and bone.
Meaning – Telephone.
This expression is an example of Cockney (or London) rhyming slang. In this type of slang words are replaced by words or phrases they rhyme with. Here, the word bone rhymes with the word phone. This type of slang is associated with the people of London, particularly street traders.
Cockney Rhyming Slang:
Here are some more examples of Cockney rhyming slang that you may come across. You’ll notice that in many of these examples the word that rhymes with the meaning is dropped from the expression; for example, we just say loaf, not loaf of bread, when we mean head. This makes it very difficult to guess the meaning of some of these expressions!
- Apples and pears – Stairs
- Brown bread – Dead
- (You’re having a) bubble (from bubble bath) – Laugh
- (Have a) butcher’s (from butcher’s hook) – Look
- China (from China plate) – Mate
- Loaf (from loaf of bread) – Head
- (It’s all gone) Pete Tong – Wrong – Pete Tong is a popular English DJ on BBC Radio 1.
- Ruby Murray – Curry – Ruby Murray was an Irish pop singer from the 1950s.
- Trouble and strife – Wife
Example:
- “Please turn down your music! Dad is on the dog and bone!”
In The News:
What is Slang?
Slang is informal language that is not considered standard or formal, and is typically used by specific groups of people or in specific contexts. It often includes words, phrases, and expressions that are not widely used in the mainstream, and can vary depending on region, social group, and age group. Slang is often used to express humour, sarcasm, or solidarity, but can also be controversial or offensive.
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