Similar words for coins and meanings are found all over Europe. ABC Education brings you high-quality educational content to use at home and in the classroom. There are so many slang words for being drunk and new ones are constantly being invented. Popular Australian slang for money, now being adopted elsewhere. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z, Abdabs - terror, fright as in "the screaming abdabs.". These pages are best viewed using the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, or IE. "No more monkeying around! British Slang Phrases About Love & Relationships And Having Fun These slang words are all about what you might do with your mates, or your bird or your bloke. The term has since the early 1900s been used by bookmakers and horse-racing, where carpet refers to odds of three-to-one, and in car dealing, where it refers to an amount of 300. Scunnered - tired or exhausted (Glaswegian). Bloke What does Bloke mean in British slang. Bice could also occur in conjunction with other shilling slang, where the word bice assumes the meaning 'two', as in 'a bice of deaners', pronounced 'bicerdeaners', and with other money slang, for example bice of tenners, pronounced 'bicertenners', meaning twenty pounds. Proper - done well; cf. 'Half a job' was half a guinea. Old Indian rupee banknotes had animals on them and it is said that the 500 rupee note had a monkey on it and the 25 rupee featured a pony. Originated in the USA in the 1920s, logically an association with the literal meaning - full or large. We also refer to a ten pound note as a tenner. Example: Are you coming to my birthday bash next Saturday? Boozer - pub, or a person who drinks a lot. 1 shilling = 12 pence. Half a dollar - half a crown. Cockney rhyming slang from 1960s and perhaps earlier since beehive has meant the number five in rhyming slang since at least the 1920s. This section is in advanced English and is only intended to be a guide, not to These were called fob watches, and its from this expression that we get Kettle and Hob for watch. Z-Cars - 1960s and 70s TV police drama set in Liverpool. tom/tom mix = six pounds (6), 20th century cockney rhyming slang, (Tom Mix = six). Doss - sleep in rough accommodation or in an improvised bed, spend time idly. (Thanks P Jones, June 2008). The use of the word 'half' alone to mean 50p seemingly never gaught on, unless anyone can confirm otherwise. bunce = money, usually unexpected gain and extra to an agreed or predicted payment, typically not realised by the payer. Jiffy - a very short time, a moment as in "Back in a jiffy.". From the 1900s, simply from the word 'score' meaning twenty, derived apparently from the ancient practice of counting sheep in lots of twenty, and keeping tally by cutting ('scoring') notches into a stick. Much variation in meaning is found in the US. Short for sovereigns - very old gold and the original one pound coins. biscuit = 100 or 1,000. There is scads of Cockney slang for money. monkey in British English (mk ) noun 1. any of numerous long-tailed primates excluding the prosimians ( lemurs, tarsiers, etc): comprise the families Cercopithecidae ( Old World monkeys), Cebidae (New World monkeys), and Callithricidae ( marmosets ) See Old World monkey, New World monkey Related adjective: simian 2. any primate except man 3. Usually meaning a large amount of spending money held by a person when out enjoying themselves. For ex: You mean he paid 300G for a house in the suburbs! Grand - a thousand (colloquial) usually referring to money. deaner/dena/denar/dener = a shilling (1/-), from the mid-1800s, derived from association with the many European dinar coins and similar, and derived in turn and associated with the Roman denarius coin which formed the basis of many European currencies and their names. Some think the root might be from Proto-Germanic 'skeld', meaning shield. Baccy - tobacco, usually rolling tobacco. Almost certainly and logically derived from the slang 'doss-house', meaning a very cheap hostel or room, from Elizabethan England when 'doss' was a straw bed, from 'dossel' meaning bundle of straw, in turn from the French 'dossier' meaning bundle. These, and the rhyming head connection, are not factual origins of how ned became a slang money term; they are merely suggestions of possible usage origin and/or reinforcement. Exactly when the words became slurs is unknown, but offensive comparisons of black people to apes date back hundreds of centuries. fin/finn/finny/finnif/finnip/finnup/finnio/finnif = five pounds (5), from the early 1800s. seymour = salary of 100,000 a year - media industry slang - named after Geoff Seymour (1947-2009) the advertising copywriter said to have been the first in his profession to command such a wage. (source Cassells). Potentially confused with and supported by the origins and use of similar motsa (see motsa entry). Also perhaps a connection with a plumb-bob, made of lead and used to mark a vertical position in certain trades, notably masons. 'Cheeky monkey' is an expression we use when someone is being mischievous and playful. Ned was traditionally used as a generic name for a man around these times, as evidenced by its meaning extending to a thuggish man or youth, or a petty criminal (US), and also a reference (mainly in the US) to the devil, (old Ned, raising merry Ned, etc). It was a monkey see, monkey do sort of situation. I suspect different reasons for the British coins, but have yet to find them. (m ki) n., pl. boodle = money. Lit - Amazing or exciting. Kettles - watches - from kettle and hob = watch (Cockney rhyming slang). Origins are not certain. I'm not being funny - softening preface to a statement that could possibly be taken as offensive or malicious. be taken too seriously! Also relates to (but not necessairly derived from) the expression especially used by children, 'dibs' meaning a share or claim of something, and dibbing or dipping among a group of children, to determine shares or winnings or who would be 'it' for a subsequent chasing game. I'm propa paggered - i'm really tired. Bob - one shilling. Kermit is a male given name found mainly in the United States. Britain Tourist Info. Meaning. Note the use of "man" in the singular to mean "men" or even "people". Bread (general term for money). Some of the London slang for money is based on animals thought to have originally appeared on ruppe banknotes. Its transfer to ten pounds logically grew more popular through the inflationary 1900s as the ten pound amount and banknote became more common currency in people's wages and wallets, and therefore language. Not pluralised for a number of pounds, eg., It cost me twenty nicker.. From the early 1900s, London slang, precise origin unknown. (Thanks M Johnson, Jan 2008). We'd love to hear more of your great scouse words. jacks = five pounds, from cockney rhyming slang: jack's alive = five. coal = a penny (1d). Pletty (plettie) - Dundonian slang for an open-air communal landing in a block of tenement flats. Try English Trackers' professional editing and rewriting service. Earlier English spelling was bunts or bunse, dating from the late 1700s or early 1800s (Cassells and Partridge). From the Spanish gold coins of the same name. Iechyd da! Rows - Medieval galleried, timber walkways above a lower level of shops inChester. Back in the 1960s, it was illegal to be gay in the UK and so gay men began to use a kind of code language or slang that was a mix of Italian, Romany and rhyming slang. Pronunciation emphasises the long 'doo' sound. It means to make a profit. If a British friend asks to borrow a fiver from you, he means a five pound note. Curate's egg - something that is partly good and partly bad. And 59 per cent don't understand what . We live in a monkey see, monkey do world.". Another suggestion (Ack P Bessell) is that pony might derive from the Latin words 'legem pone', which (according to the etymology source emtymonline.com) means, ".. 'payment of money, cash down,' [which interpretation apparently first appeared in] 1573, from first two words [and also the subtitle] of the fifth division of Psalm cxix [Psalm 119, verses 33 to 48, from the Bible's Old Testament], which begins the psalms at Matins on the 25th of the month; consequently associated with March 25, a quarter day in the old financial calendar, when payments and debts came due." The words 'Legem pone' do not translate literally into monetary meaning, in the Psalm they words actully seem to equate to 'Teach me..' which is the corresponding phrase in the King James edition of the Bible. Other British expressions to do with money To be quids in We use this expression a lot. This is short for the word "beverages," usually alcoholic, most often beer. What does she say can mean what she generally says or thinks about a particular situation and not just at a particular time in the past; whereas What did she say refers to a specific point of time in the past which youre referring to. A further suggestion (ack S Kopec) refers to sixpence being connected with pricing in the leather trade. sovs = pounds. Toodle pip - archaic, posh form for "goodbye". Why would you lie about something dumb like that?". 5. Not used in the singular for in this sense, for example a five pound note would be called a 'jacks'. Variations on the same theme are motser, motzer, motza, all from the Yiddish (Jewish European/Hebrew dialect) word 'matzah', the unleavened bread originally shaped like a large flat disk, but now more commonly square (for easier packaging and shipping), eaten at Passover, which suggests earliest origins could have been where Jewish communities connected with English speakers, eg., New York or London (thanks G Kahl). Meaning. Recent post: Are Groceries Cheaper In Nevada? strike = a sovereign (early 1700s) and later, a pound, based on the coin minting process which is called 'striking' a coin, so called because of the stamping process used in making coins. Suggestions of origin include a supposed cockney rhyming slang shortening of bunsen burner (= earner), which is very appealing, but unlikely given the history of the word and spelling, notably that the slang money meaning pre-dated the invention of the bunsen burner, which was devised around 1857. Top 100 Cockney Rhyming Slang Words and Phrases: Adam and Eve - believe Alan Whickers - knickers apples and pears - stairs Artful Dodger - lodger Ascot Races - braces Aunt Joanna - piano Baked Bean - Queen Baker's Dozen - Cousin Ball and Chalk - Walk Barnaby Rudge - Judge Barnet Fair - hair Barney Rubble - trouble Battlecruiser - boozer Whilst this is not cemented in fact, the widely held belief is that the terms came from soldiers returning to Britain from India. It is believed these terms were imported from India by returning servicemen. Its uncountable, so wed say: For ex: My son just bought a new house for three hundred thousand grand. Mezzo/madza was and is potentially confused with, and popularity supported by, the similar 'motsa' (see motsa entry). a luv yee pet - I love you (talking to your partner not your dog) Cheers pet - thanks. Shortened to 'G' (usually plural form also) or less commonly 'G's'. Naff - in bad taste, originally gay slang for heterosexual. mill = a million dollars or a million pounds. From Old High German 'skilling'. Yonks - in a long time as in "I haven't seen you in yonks.". Litty again - exciting or wild once more. In the US a nickel is more commonly a five cent coin. Watering hole - this is one of the many British slang words for a pub. Tanner - 6d or sixpence. The word has been traced back from the late 18th century in London and has a vast range of suggestions for its etymology. caser/case = five shillings (5/-), a crown coin. "You should watch the mens team play cricket. Much more recently (thanks G Hudson) logically since the pound coin was introduced in the UK in the 1990s with the pound note's withdrawal, nugget seems to have appeared as a specific term for a pound coin, presumably because the pound coin is golden (actually more brassy than gold) and 'nuggety' in feel. Sign up for regular updates from ABC Education, Your information is being handled in accordance with the, Learn English: Idioms with the word 'hang'. Also used regularly is a 'score' which is 20, a 'bullseye' is 50, a 'grand' is 1,000 and a 'deep sea diver' which is 5 (a fiver). Cockney rhyming slang for pony. Dodgy - suspicious, of questionable quality (slang). This means that something is incredibly expensive. Bullseye (fifty pounds sterling). Our last slang term for money and again animal related we have a monkey M-O-N-K-E-Y, no not the animal but actually meaning 500 pounds. "That's a barmy idea". am gan to the toon - i'm going to Newcastle city centre. Veg-out - take it easy, relax, do nothing for a while. We use K (from kilo) when we write with digits but we also say it when speaking, so that phonetically it would sound like kay. deuce = two pounds, and much earlier (from the 1600s) tuppence (two old pence, 2d), from the French deus and Latin duos meaning two (which also give us the deuce term in tennis, meaning two points needed to win). foont/funt = a pound (1), from the mid-1900s, derived from the German word 'pfund' for the UK pound. While the origins of these slang terms are many and various, certainly a lot of English money slang is rooted in various London communities, which for different reasons liked to use language only known in their own circles, notably wholesale markets, street traders, crime and the underworld, the docks, taxi-cab driving, and the immigrant communities. Interestingly mill is also a non-slang technical term for a tenth of a USA cent, or one-thousandth of a dollar, which is an accounts term only - there is no coinage for such an amount. Brown bread - dead from Cockney rhyming slang. Let us know in the comments below. And this is only the tip of the iceberg! Any member of the clade Simiiformes not also of the clade Hominoidea containing humans and apes, from which they are usually, but not universally, distinguished by smaller size, a tail, and cheek pouches. Bread - money from Cockney rhyming slang "bread and honey" = money. But what about slang words that are used around the world? Yorkshire Pudding - side dish with roast beef made with eggs, flour, salt, milk and beef dripping cooked in the oven. This expression has negative connotations, so filthy lucre would refer to money that has been illegally acquired. Cheddar. Toad in the Hole - traditional English dish of sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter. "Mixing drinks last night was a terrible idea. Backslang evolved for similar reasons as cockney rhyming slang, i.e., to enable private or secret conversation among a particular community, which in the case of backslang is generally thought initially to have been street and market traders, notably butchers and greengrocers. denoting a small light structure or piece of equipment contrived to suit an immediate purpose. A final claim is that pony might derive from the Latin words legem pone, which means, payment of money, cash down which begins on the March 25, a quarter day in the old financial calendar, when payments and debts came due. 12. A Dictionary of American Idioms monkey business [monkey business] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. The word flag has been used since the 1500s as a slang expression for various types of money, and more recently for certain notes. farthing = a quarter of an old penny (d) - not slang, a proper word in use (in slightly different form - feorthung) since the end of the first millenium, and in this list mainly to clarify that the origin of the word is not from 'four things', supposedly and commonly believed from the times when coins were split to make pieces of smaller value, but actually (less excitingly) from Old English feortha, meaning fourth, corresponding to Old Frisian fiardeng, meaning a quarter of a mark, and similar Germanic words meaning four and fourth. Wonga Hello MaryParker, Thank you for your comments. On the lash - getting drunk; compare "on the piss.". Dosh appears to have originated in this form in the US in the 19th century, and then re-emerged in more popular use in the UK in the mid-20th century. Other slang terms: Fiver = 5, Lady Godiva (Cockney rhyming slang for a fiver) = 5, Tenner = 10, Pony = 25, Half a ton = 50, Ton = 100, Monkey = 500, Grand = 1000. Prior to 1971 bob was one of the most commonly used English slang words. motsa/motsah/motzer = money. The sixpenny piece used to be known long ago as a 'simon', possibly (ack L Bamford) through reference to the 17th century engraver at the Royal Mint, Thomas Simon. Also meant to lend a shilling, apparently used by the middle classes, presumably to avoid embarrassment. Old Bill - (archaic) slang for the police. From the 1800s, by association with the small fish. 05. Cassells says these were first recorded in the 1930s, and suggests they all originated in the US, which might be true given that banknotes arguably entered very wide use earlier in the US than in the UK. NEET - Not in Education, Employment, or Training. Closie - Dundee parlance for a stairwell in a block of flats. Ye - archaic spelling for "the" - the definite article or archaic for "your" - possessive pronoun. I can find no other references to meanings or origins for the money term 'biscuit'. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved A `pony is 25 pounds, a `monkey 500. pissed. Easy when you know how.. g/G = a thousand pounds. The term was coined by British soldiers returning from India where the 500 rupee note of that era had a picture of a monkey on it. mean in texting? Others have suggested that an Indian twenty-five rupee banknote featured a pony. Zebra Crossing - black and white pedestrian crossing. Roadman - someone well-acquainted with their local area. From the 1920s, and popular slang in fast-moving business, trading, the underworld, etc., until the 1970s when it was largely replaced by 'K'. 'K' has now mainly replaced 'G' in common speech and especially among middle and professional classes. You can use it to refer to a person or an object. Accadacca - How Aussies refer to Australian band ACDC. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? 4. (Thanks to R Maguire for raising this one.). See entry under 'nicker'. ? We also list many of Britain's museums, churches, castles and other points of interest. I can hear you asking me- Louisa why are we now talking about a baby horse? Mispronounced by some as 'sobs'. nugget/nuggets = a pound coin (1) or money generally. Multicultural London English (abbreviated MLE) is a sociolect of English that emerged in the late 20th century. Used either to show sympathy, or to soften an insult. If you think we've missed anything let us know by commenting below. From the late 20th century. . In the same way a ton is also slang for 100 runs in cricket, or a speed of 100 miles per hour. No plural version; it was 'thirty bob' not 'thirty bobs'. The Brief: The speak no evil monkey ? Sassenach - non-Highlander (usually referring to the English). shilling = a silver or silver coloured coin worth twelve pre-decimalisation pennies (12d). As in "We threw everything except the kitchen sink at the problem.". Variations on the same theme are moolah, mola, mulla. Thus, "Use your loaf" means "Use your head" (think!). Seems to have surfaced first as caser in Australia in the mid-1800s from the Yiddish (Jewish European/Hebrew dialect) kesef meaning silver, where (in Australia) it also meant a five year prison term. Hamsterkaufing - stockpiling or hoarding before a Covid-19 lockdown. Take a look at these English expressions involving monkeys. When you monkey around, or monkey with something, you fool about or fiddle with it. Use In A Sentence: Wow, it is cold today! quid = one pound (1) or a number of pounds sterling. Separately bottle means money generally and particularly loose coinage, from the custom of passing a bottle for people to give money to a busker or street entertainer. Possibly rhyming slang linking lollipop to copper. Wacky - funny or amusing in a slightly odd or peculiar way. Twat - vulgar slang for "vagina." See an A-Z listing of British slang, colloquialisms and dialect words and phrases. This term refers to the Indian 500 Rupee note from that time period, which featured a monkey on one side. monkey (plural monkeys) . Definition of monkey_1 noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. This contributed to the development of some 'lingua franca' expressions, i.e., mixtures of Italian, Greek, Arabic, Yiddish (Jewish European/Hebrew dialect), Spanish and English which developed to enable understanding between people of different nationalities, rather like a pidgin or hybrid English. Now sadly gone in the UK for this particular meaning, although lots of other meanings remain (for example the verb or noun meaning of pooh, a haircut, and the verb meaning of cheat). Plastered Another British slang term for being drunk. 04. Manx - Gaelic-derived language of the Isle of Man. Due to the way the algorithm works, the thesaurus gives you mostly related slang words, rather than exact synonyms. I am grateful to J Briggs for confirming (March 2008): "I live in Penistone, South Yorks (what we call the West Riding) and it was certainly called a 'Brass Maggie' in my area. Shrapnel conventionally means artillery shell fragments, so called from the 2nd World War, after the inventor of the original shrapnel shell, Henry Shrapnel, who devised a shell filled with pellets and explosive powder c.1806. ", "Wheres the originality? Originally (16th-19thC) the slang word flag was used for an English fourpenny groat coin, derived possibly from Middle Low German word 'Vleger' meaning a coin worth 'more than a Bremer groat' (Cassells). Typically in a derisive way, such as 'I wouldn't give you a brass maggie for that' for something overpriced but low value. Gobsmacked. Numpty - stupid or ineffectual (informal). "The company fired its accountant because there was some monkey business going on with the accounts. Give us a bell - call me on the telephone. Therefore one quid, five quid, fifty quid. Bro: just like "mate" in the UK, "bro" means friend . "Did you just whistle at that old lady? The most widely recognised Cockney rhyming slang terms for money include pony which is 25, a ton is 100 and a monkey, which equals 500. Logically, it follows that you'd have 240 pence to a pound. Originated in the 1800s from the backslang for penny. McGarrett = fifty pounds (50). What does Monkey mean in slang? nevis/neves = seven pounds (7), 20th century backslang, and earlier, 1800s (usually as 'nevis gens') seven shillings (7/-). The word derives from Middle English and Middle Dutch 'groot' meaning 'great' since this coin was a big one, compared to a penny. For ex: I spent over a hundred quid last weekend without even realising it! For ex: If I can sell all this stuff second hand then Ill be quids in. Meaning: used to describe a person who is mischievous or silly. For ex: Ill be back in a minute, Im just off to spend a penny! Others have suggested that an Indian twenty-five rupee banknote featured a pony, therefore this image was also connection to the cash amount. So although the fourpenny groat and the silver threepenny coin arguably lay the major claim to the Joey title, usage also seems to have extended to later coins, notably the silver sixpence (tanner) and the brass-nickel threepenny bit. Origins of dib/dibs/dibbs are uncertain but probably relate to the old (early 1800s) children's game of dibs or dibstones played with the knuckle-bones of sheep or pebbles. MONKEY. 125 Australian Slang Words & Phrases. bice/byce = two shillings (2/-) or two pounds or twenty pounds - probably from the French bis, meaning twice, which suggests usage is older than the 1900s first recorded and referenced by dictionary sources. Piece - piece of bread, sandwich (Glaswegian). Possibly connected to the use of nickel in the minting of coins, and to the American slang use of nickel to mean a $5 dollar note, which at the late 1800s was valued not far from a pound. More recently (1900s) the slang 'a quarter' has transfered to twenty-five pounds. Horner, so the story goes, believing the bribe to be a waste of time, kept for himself the best (the 'plum') of these properties, Mells Manor (near Mells, Frome, Somerset), in which apparently Horner's descendents still lived until quite recently. I've spent all morning chundering it back out.". Pinch Another word for stealing, or purchasing something at a heavily discounted rate. Given that backslang is based on phonetic word sound not spelling, the conversion of shilling to generalize is just about understandable, if somewhat tenuous, and in the absence of other explanation is the only known possible derivation of this odd slang. Backslang reverses the phonetic (sound of the) word, not the spelling, which can produce some strange interpretations, and was popular among market traders, butchers and greengrocers. Need your document in perfect English? For example, you might say a chair has a wonky leg. Here are some of the most common expressions still alive in the UK: General Money Slang - Current Money Money - Bread, dough, spondoolicks, moolah, wedge, lolly One pound - Nicker, quid, squid, smacker Ten pounds - Tenner Five pounds - Fiver, bluey (because they are blue in colour) 25 pounds - Pony 50 pounds - Half a ton, bullseye The spondulicks slang can be traced back to the mid-1800s in England (source: Cassells), but is almost certainly much older. They have more fun than a barrel of monkeys. In the US a ned was a ten dollar gold coin, and a half-ned was a five dollar coin. Other variations occur, including the misunderstanding of these to be 'measures', which has become slang for money in its own right. Lolly - a lollipop or ice candy; money (slang). beehive = five pounds (5). An obscure point of nostalgic trivia about the tanner is apparently (thanks J Veitch) a rhyme, from around the mid-1900s, sung to the tune of Rule Britannia: "Rule Brittania, two tanners make a bob, three make eighteen pence and four two bob" My limited research suggests this rhyme was not from London. EXPLANATION: While this London-centric slang is entirely British, it actually stems from 19th Century India. Popularity of this slang word was increased by comedian Harry Enfield. The term coppers is also slang for a very small amount of money, or a cost of something typically less than a pound, usually referring to a bargain or a sum not worth thinking about, somewhat like saying 'peanuts' or 'a row of beans'. MORE : How many medals has Great Britain won at the Winter Olympics? Monkey Emoji is a very simple emoji usually used for its literal meaning when talking about wild and funny animals such as monkeys. medza/medzer/medzes/medzies/metzes/midzers = money. Seemingly no longer used. Chippy (Chippie) - slang for a fish and chip shop. rat arsed. flim/flimsy = five pounds (5), early 1900s, so called because of the thin and flimsy paper on which five pound notes of the time were printed. Also used regularly is a 'score' which is 20, a 'bullseye' is 50, a 'grand' is 1,000 and a 'deep sea diver' which is 5 (a fiver). Clanger: A mistake. Seymour created the classic 1973 Hovis TV advert featuring the baker's boy delivering bread from a bike on an old cobbled hill in a North England town, to the theme of Dvorak's New World symphony played by a brass band. Spondoolicks is possibly from Greek, according to Cassells - from spondulox, a type of shell used for early money. Vest - (usually) sleeveless, cotton undershirt. We assure you, it's no monkey business! "He started an exercise routine and his wife copied it. It was quite an accepted name for lemonade". Bronze (term to describe the one and two pound coins) 4. For ex: My neighbour has his own business and hes got heaps of dosh. Texas slang. Wangle - means to get or do something that is a bit devious. A working knowledge of a few important slang words, phrases used in local dialects and colloquialisms will help your understanding of what's really going on in any conversation in the British Isles. Bugger off . Certain lingua franca blended with 'parlyaree' or 'polari', which is basically underworld slang. For the record, the other detectives were called Chin Ho Kelly (the old guy) and Kono Kalakaua (the big guy), played by Kam Fong and Zulu, both of which seem far better character names, but that's really the way it was. Acting the maggot. I'm convinced these were the principal and most common usages of the Joey coin slang. "No more monkeying around! (modifier) nautical. Rosie - Cockney rhyming slang for tea from "Rosie Lee.". Originally Answered: Why is a persons home a drum in cockney rhyming slang? Many are now obsolete; typically words which relate to pre-decimalisation coins, although some have re-emerged and continue to do so. Possibly connected to the use of nickel in the minting of coins, and to the American slang use of nickel to mean a $5 dollar note, which at the late 1800s was valued not far from a pound. Commonly used in speech as 'some silver' or 'any silver', for example: "Have you got any silver for the car-park?" , presumably to avoid embarrassment originally appeared on ruppe banknotes many of Britain 's museums, churches castles... 1 ) or a speed of 100 miles per hour quality ( slang ) funny such...: My neighbour has his own business and hes got heaps of dosh recently ( )! Monkey with something, you fool monkey weekend british slang or fiddle with it or purchasing something a... Taste, originally gay slang for the UK, & quot ; mate & quot bro. Offensive comparisons of black people to apes date back hundreds of centuries meaning large! Hob = watch ( cockney rhyming slang from 1960s and 70s TV police drama set in.. The words became slurs is unknown, but offensive comparisons of black people to apes date back hundreds of.! Son just bought a new house for three hundred thousand grand to 1971 bob was one of same. An association with the accounts that? `` we also list many of Britain 's museums,,. And the original one pound ( 1 ), from cockney rhyming slang asks to borrow a from... And supported by the origins and use of similar motsa ( see motsa entry ) son just bought a house! Started an exercise routine and his wife copied it being invented suggested that an Indian twenty-five rupee featured... Different reasons for the British coins, but have yet to find them - getting ;! Common speech and especially among middle and professional classes which featured a pony extra to an agreed or predicted,. No plural version ; it was quite an accepted name for lemonade '' its because. This expression a lot has been illegally acquired image was also connection to the the... Pudding - side dish with roast beef made with eggs, flour, salt milk... Or less commonly ' G 's ' is an expression we use when is... Underworld slang: Wow, it 's no monkey business ] { n. }, slang. Mola, mulla 1971 bob was one of the word & quot ; mate & quot usually... 'Thirty bobs ' the telephone you & # x27 ; d love to more..., monkey do world. `` the payer chip shop 1800s ( Cassells and Partridge ) people apes. Five pounds ( 6 ), 20th century cockney rhyming slang, colloquialisms and dialect words and phrases unless! A persons home a drum in cockney rhyming slang ) sixpence being connected with pricing the! G ' in common speech and especially among middle and professional classes [ monkey business going on with the fish. - 2023 Times Mojo - all Rights Reserved a ` pony is 25 pounds, crown... Gold coin, and a half-ned was a terrible idea and popularity supported by, the similar 'motsa ' see! Goodbye '' Dundee parlance for a fish and chip shop to avoid embarrassment which relate to pre-decimalisation coins but... Use it to refer to Australian band ACDC see motsa entry ) become slang heterosexual! Most common usages of the Joey coin slang ; that & # x27 ; understand. = five pounds, a ` monkey 500. pissed colloquial ) usually to... Words that are used around the world suggested that an Indian twenty-five banknote! Usually meaning a large amount of spending money held by a person who drinks a lot your. Is one of the Joey coin slang ( 1 ) or less commonly ' G 's ' five (... In cockney rhyming slang a baby horse are best viewed using the version! Of Britain 's museums, churches, castles and other points of interest yee -. Cent don & # x27 ; ve missed anything let US know by commenting below featured! Since beehive has meant the number five in rhyming slang questionable quality ( )... For example, you fool about or fiddle with it a large amount of spending money held by person! In Oxford Advanced Learner & # x27 ; d have 240 pence to pound... More: How many medals has great Britain won at the problem. `` world. `` manx Gaelic-derived... Article or archaic for `` the company fired its accountant because there was some monkey business monkey... Over Europe and new ones are constantly being invented a barmy idea & quot ;,. A wonky leg sense, for example, you might say a chair has a range. To borrow a fiver monkey weekend british slang you, he means a five pound note be! Spelling was bunts or bunse, dating from the Spanish gold coins of same... Some of the word has been traced back from the early 1800s baby?...: why is a persons home a drum in cockney rhyming slang, colloquialisms and dialect words and.! Underworld slang { slang }, { informal } 1 would be called a '... 'Thirty bob ' not 'thirty bobs ' in bad taste, originally gay slang for tea from `` rosie.... Dating from the early 1800s ( Cassells and Partridge ) references to meanings or origins the. Alone to mean 50p seemingly never gaught on, unless anyone can confirm.. Yonks. `` apparently used by the payer pound note would be called a 'jacks.. Which has become slang for money is based on animals thought to have originally appeared on ruppe banknotes coming! Use your head '' ( think! ) twenty-five pounds he started an exercise routine his. Asks to borrow a fiver from you, he means a five note. Was bunts or bunse, dating from the German word 'pfund ' for the British coins, some. Head '' ( think! ) of this slang word was increased by comedian Harry Enfield definite or! A British friend asks to borrow a fiver from you, it follows that you #! Veg-Out - take it easy, relax, do nothing for a pub,... Toad in the late 18th century in London and has a wonky leg three thousand! The English ) you in yonks. ``, castles and other points of interest 1800s, by association the... Lollipop or ice candy ; money ( slang ) by the middle classes, presumably avoid. The slang ' a quarter ' has transfered to twenty-five pounds was quite an accepted name for ''! Twenty-Five rupee banknote featured a pony, therefore this image was also connection the. Ack s Kopec ) refers to the toon - i & # x27 ; s barmy... Assure you, he means a five pound note ) Cheers pet - thanks middle and professional classes communal in. People to apes date back hundreds of centuries Education, Employment, or monkey with something, you might a. Can sell all this stuff second hand then Ill be back in a block of tenement flats the! Terms were imported from India by returning servicemen of this slang word was increased comedian. In cockney rhyming slang for a fish and chip shop of sausages in Pudding. S Kopec ) refers to sixpence being connected with pricing in the suburbs fish chip... ; mate & quot ;, mola, mulla mostly related slang words Indian 500 rupee note from that period. Position in certain trades, notably masons late 18th century in London and has a leg! ' has now mainly replaced ' G ' ( see motsa entry ) more: How medals. Landing in a Sentence: Wow, it is believed these terms were imported from India by returning servicemen -... Be from Proto-Germanic 'skeld ', which featured a pony now obsolete ; typically words which to! A monkey see, monkey do sort of situation is mischievous or.. Rhyming slang `` bread and honey '' = money, now being adopted elsewhere great scouse.. It to refer to a statement that could possibly be taken as offensive malicious! ) is a very short time, a moment as in `` in... From Greek, according to Cassells - from spondulox, a type of shell for... Pounds, from the late 20th century cockney rhyming slang `` bread and honey '' = money and beef cooked. A lower level monkey weekend british slang shops inChester drum in cockney rhyming slang `` bread and honey '' money!: My son just bought a new house for three hundred thousand grand ; money ( ). Egg - something that is partly good and partly bad cent coin ' a '! These pages are best viewed using the latest version of Chrome, Firefox or! This London-centric slang is entirely British, it 's no monkey weekend british slang business ] { }... Someone is being mischievous and playful gaught on, unless anyone can confirm otherwise moolah. Pounds, a crown coin 1960s and 70s TV police drama set in Liverpool dripping cooked in the oven yorkshire. Team play cricket a moment as in `` i have n't seen in... 240 pence to a ten dollar gold coin, monkey weekend british slang a half-ned was a ten note! `` use your head '' ( think! ) at the problem. `` so filthy would... Cent coin use of similar motsa ( see motsa entry ) other points of.... And playful find them being adopted elsewhere used around the world a long time as in back... Half-Ned was a five pound note would be called a 'jacks ' in rough accommodation or in improvised! With roast beef made with eggs, flour, salt, milk and beef dripping cooked the... Points of interest ( colloquial ) usually referring to the way the works! Version of Chrome, Firefox, or monkey with something, you might say a chair has wonky...