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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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rhyming slang
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Something between a secret language and an ongoing game of invention, first developed among London's *cockneys in the mid-19C. The principle is to find a phrase which rhymes with a real word, then to drop the rhyming part and use the rest as a synonym. A good example is the rhyming slang titfer (tit-for-tat) for hat; or more recently the Sweeney (from *Sweeney Todd) for the Flying Squad. Some phrases enter the language with the rhyme still attached; trouble and strife for wife is a well-known example. Arthur for cash (also used in full as Arthur Ashe, the tennis champion) is proof that the game goes on.
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