B11

Cockney rhyming slang is a collection of phrases used by people from East London, England, based on words that rhyme with the words someone wants to say. Some people believe that Londoners began to use cockney rhyming slang during the 16th century, but nobody knows for certain.

 COLLECT

B12

This unusual way of speaking is often heard among the market traders of East London.

 USUAL

B13

Many say that they used to use this secret language among themselves so that their customers were unable to understand what they were saying.

 CUSTOM

B14

Others say that it was a way of keeping people together as the Cockneys had a strong sense of community and wanted to exclude strangers.

COMMUNE

B15

Today, many of the most common expressions in cockney rhyming slang are now used in normal everyday English. The saying ‘use your loaf’, which means ‘think’, comes from the rhyming slang ‘loaf of bread’, which rhymes with ‘head’.

 EXPRESS

B16

Some experts claim that cockney rhyming slang isn’t used as frequently any more, but one thing is certain; just like any language, it is always changing and evolving.

FREQUENT