The Cockney Alphabet
The "Cockney alphabet" is usually attributed to the comedians Clapham and Dwyer. From wikipedia:
But some believe that the alphabet predates Clapham and Dwyer, and that the duo just happened to popularize a version of it. And there are multiple variations of the alphabet in circulation. The version below comes from Walrus Talk (1954) by Douglas Woodruff.
The Sydney Morning Herald has a guide that decodes most of the phrases in the above version of the alphabet. Though a few of them remain totally cryptic to me.
As part of their act in 1929, they originated the Cockney Alphabet, a humorous alphabet that replaces the letters of the alphabet with supposed "Cockney" phonetics, such as "A for ‘Orses" (Hay for Horses) and ending with "Z for Effect" (Said for Effect). They recorded the routine, as "A Surrealist Alphabet", in 1936.
But some believe that the alphabet predates Clapham and Dwyer, and that the duo just happened to popularize a version of it. And there are multiple variations of the alphabet in circulation. The version below comes from Walrus Talk (1954) by Douglas Woodruff.
The Sydney Morning Herald has a guide that decodes most of the phrases in the above version of the alphabet. Though a few of them remain totally cryptic to me.
| A - Hay for Horses B - Beef or Mutton C - Seaforth Highlanders D - Deferential E - Eve or Adam F - Effervescence G - Chief of Police H - Age before beauty I - Ivor Novello J - Jaffa oranges K - Cafe for coffee?? L - Hell for leather M - Emphasis | N - ??? O - O for the wings of a dove P - Pee for a penny Q - Queue for a picture R - Half a mo' S - ??? T - Tea for two U - UFA films?? V - Viva La France W - I'll double you for a shilling X - Eggs for breakfast Y - Wife or sweetheart Z - See you |
Comments
I think the S is SFORZA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Sforza
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Sforza
Posted by Yudith on 12/29/23 at 06:51 AM
N would be 'enfilading', a military maneuver.
Posted by Phred22 on 12/29/23 at 02:19 PM
U may be "euphemisms". It's a stretch.
Posted by Virtual on 12/30/23 at 02:08 PM
It's certainly not the only one. For one, I've always heard E for brick ('eave - Heave, throw - a brick). And C (see) for yourself.
Mind, if it is *much* older, there has to be an alternative to Ivor Novello. So *is* this the original? I doubt it.
Mind, if it is *much* older, there has to be an alternative to Ivor Novello. So *is* this the original? I doubt it.
Posted by Richard Bos on 12/31/23 at 10:30 AM
Which way should one pronounce this word: 'cayf' or 'cafay'?
Posted by Curtis on 01/01/24 at 09:50 AM
Curtis -- I think it's pronounced both those ways in the U.K. Maybe it varies regionally, or maybe there's a distinction between a 'cayf' and a 'cafay'. I'm not sure. Perhaps that phrase is supposed to read "cayf or cafay"?
Posted by Alex on 01/01/24 at 01:33 PM
"U films" - The "U" (universal) certificate for feature films has been a common sight in UK cinemas since its first appearance in 1913. It is roughly equivalent to the American "G" classification.
Posted by Stuart on 01/03/24 at 09:43 AM
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Category: Puns and Other Wordplay