QI: Cockney Rhyming Slang: A Lesson with Stephen Fry - BBC

[audball911]

"Let's Georgie the Orientals." sounds incredibly wrong. Or racist. Maybe both.

[lokalllize]

So I heared Fry is a iron hoof

[levatau93]

wat koin' ov donald duckery is 'dis?

Res' In My brova's Dotta AMy Winehouse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[macarion]

what the fuck is a "woman who does"

[EvalinaxCullen]

@macarion woman does = buzz :)

[nkvuong]

i will fav 

[2bitgirly007]

Hey there China plate, nice whistle and flute! Have you seen my tit for tat? My loaf of bread is cold and I can't get no other for I've got no bees and honey. I could have sworn I left it near the Cain and Able. Ah well...how do ya like my daisy roots? Look swell on my plate of meat, eh? Butchers Crook! That pot and pan gots some really mean mince pies. All I know is I'd never consent to be his trouble and strife...

^It's stupid how much fun that is to say... ;D

C.R.S convert via the USA.

[BasementBeginnings]

@2bitgirly007 I find it discomforting that I'm American and understood that speech down to a tee. :P

[mcnesta80]

@2bitgirly007 nice one seppo!

[mrceebees14]

As a young American kid growing up in the early 1980s we used to get Benny Hill on TV twice a week for 1 hour and I never missed it. Loved it so much I remember being depressed when it was over haha.

Love the English.

[smallrossy]

lmfao alan davies!

[JimmySteller]

I love their reaction to the cockney version of "tell".

[cerealkiller2106]

@childofanew Seems a bit patronizing to me. Only helps reinforce the hideous stereotype. There's a lot of ignorance on both sides, but it's hard to be uninformed about America when you have our culture rammed down your throat everywhere.

[blondeyboy1]

what does that have to do with this video

[hugh0221]

ADVERTS SUCK!

[olliepfc94]

anyone played cockney bingo?

god almighty- number 90

fiddle sticks- numer 6

hell and heaven- number 11

[seitenshow]

ᴸᴹᴬᴼ

[frenchy16785]

whytf do all comments on british comedy clips always seem to turn into a slanging match between yanks and brits. FFS just chill and watch the clip. If you are going to post a comment make it about the clip

[childofanew]

@PseudoPoiesis Exactly. We're screwed no matter what happens. There's just too many of them!

[Daleksaresupreme1]

@childofanew just don't elect serra palin and there's hope. but if that women gets her hands on nuclear weapons the hole world (not just america) is doomed

[cesariojpn]

A buncha ASBO chavs these twats are.

[yellowcougar18]

I see youtube got rid of the 'click here to skip the advert' button.

[yokie52]

As in anything it is the ignorant jackasses that are the loudest. Not the quiet, thoughtful Americans.

[brogin]

If they don't tell me what they mean this shit is completely incomprehensible to me.

[Zoball1]

"What the fuck are you talking about!" Lol. Thank you Alan for saying what everyone was thinking. xD

[OghamTheBold]

I love the old slang - but I deliberately infuriate proper cockneys - by saying things like;

Up the 'apples and stairs' - it drives 'em mad

[ICantBeFaged]

they missed out gregory peck-neck , skin and blister -sister i should know im a proper cockney

[Eddtastic100]

@ICantBeFaged your just a berk now have a butchers for by titva so you don't get into barney with me.......no no i dont give a pony so make me a rosie . Hold on i gotta wash my germans and comb my barnett.

[ICantBeFaged]

@Eddtastic100 proper cockney nice to see my son im cream crackered ... oh my gawd i dont adam and eve it

[Eddtastic100]

@ICantBeFaged :)

[deedubya286]

@ICantBeFaged Somebody has been watching their "Fools & Horses", haven't they?

[randothepally]

I'd just like to say... I find this scene funny.

There we go. No arguments here.

[rayvenbane]

40 you're-amazing-thank-you to anyone from Britain or elsewise that can pick out and list what each term meant - I got lost around oh say the first 10 seconds... appreciate the help in starting to speak or at least be able to understand Cockney! Come on, let's all calm down and enjoy the fun QI is giving us! ;)

[rayvenbane]

40 you're-amazing-thank-you to anyone from Britain or elsewise that can pick out and list what each term meant - I got lost around oh say the first 10 seconds... appreciate the help in starting to speak or at least be able to understand Cockney! Come on, let's all calm down and enjoy the fun QI is giving us! ;)

[ben091294]

I happen to be a very conservative American. That doesn't make me an incest-bred redneck, a trailer park hillbilly, or a racist, even though many of you all would like to believe that. I do think that Stephen Fry is hilarious, as is QI, and I can't quite understand how we all got onto the topic of conservative Americans in the first place.

[therookie93]

I'm American and Californian, the furthest thing from a trailer park, incest, radical nationalism, and conservatism. So suck it Mr. "I'd-like-to-make-wild-inaccur­ate-generalizations."

[AlexDeeboTV]

BBC shouldn't have adverts.....

[NightmaresRegin]

@AlexDeeboTV It's BBC "worldwide" it has adverts so the rest of the world can view it too

[AlexDeeboTV]

@NightmaresRegin Aaah, Gotcha :P

[antbubb]

@AlexDeeboTV

Only BBC output in the UK is commercial free; go anywhere else in the world and all radio and TV output will have adverts. The whole world doesn't pay a licence fee y'know ;)

[degrandsreves]

@antbubb It's commercial free in RoI too

[sparrough]

I like their shirts :)

[joydivided23]

God I hate Rory McGrath...

[childofanew]

@wildvenisson You have no idea. Sarcasm is actually the one concept that we've managed to grasp over here. But your brand of sarcasm would more than likely fall on deaf ears here, making it all the easier to insult people. And you wouldn't even have to use rhyming slang to throw off a good portion of Americans. Just use words that we don't, something as simple as "bangers" for instance. Use that and they'd just stare at you with a slightly glazed look in their eye. Not hard to confuse us sadly.

[wordreet]

Goose this, I'm going up the apples for a J.

[johnpheth]

Butchers = butcher's hook = look

Bulletproofs = bulletproof vests = guests

[emogal365]

I freakin love Alan, he is so damn funny

[petersims411]

Barney is trouble

[kayper54]

What's funny, Bill Bailey's "real" name isn't Bill, it's Mark, I think. Of course, he may have had it legally changed, ie. Chad "Ochocinco."

I swear, I find it easier to understand Chinese than this Cockney rhyming stuff.

[Raventoll]

@kayper54 Here we are, enjoying QI, and you had to bring up Chad Johnson >.<

[kayper54]

@Raventoll Sorry. He'd ruin just about any video, wouldn't he?  :(

[Raventoll]

@kayper54 What do you expect from a guy who doesn't know the actual spanish word for 85?

[kayper54]

@Raventoll lol

[childofanew]

@apocaRUFF Well, when I said walled borders, I suppose I should have said "fenced" instead, because that's what it is really . I was referring to the U.S./Mexico border that the U.S. has been trying to close off for years now to "prevent the flow of illegal aliens." I just think that trying to build up walls to block everyone else out is extremely unneeded, which is why I ranted about it a bit there.

And I completely agree with you, if you go looking for ass holes, you'll be sure to find one.

[someguycalleddave]

@childofanew Think you mean arse holes!

[Raventoll]

@childofanew Yeah, ask the Cubans who illegally emigrated about how effective a big wall would be

[sgbigsby1989]

as a scot i could not understand any of that erm, im baffled.

[thegeographyman]

@sgbigsby1989

as a normal person i cant understand you

[Cheshirecat55]

I love Alan Davies reaction.

[sandningga]

alan is such a dumb shit!!

[potentperson]

@sandningga He's being sarcastic

[TheRealSmacker]

I don´t like Alan Davis.



[283kieran]

WOW it seems like there was obviously a SMART Britt and a obviously DUMB American arguing where did that convo start?!!?

[BritishAlienCompany]

So using this for english language! :P

[redSG]

Wow I had no idea what was going on here. Somehow, though, it was still hilarious.

[RzXVeRSaTiiLe]

wtf 

[KidsWithGuns1992]

How long has this show been on for? Did it used to have a different host, instead of Stephen Fry?

[whoiscraig]

@KidsWithGuns1992 It's been on since 2006, and Stephen Fry has always hosted it.

[MrBobo9921]

@whoiscraig its been on since 2003 smart arse

[whoiscraig]

@MrBobo9921 Get over it, I was just answering a question, dickhead

[MrBobo9921]

@whoiscraig ooooooh someones on their period

[cheekysquiggle]

@MrBobo9921 who the fuck is saying someone is one their period an insult!?

[MrBobo9921]

@cheekysquiggle did i use it as an insult? quite clearly not, you yourself must have an IQ of 30 to think that was an insult but i can quite clearly see that you sir are an imbecile :), have a nice day

[el6caballo6oscuro6]

@whoiscraig yeah but you were wrong lol

[villevn]

Wow, I see great potential in Cockney poetry...also, nice show! :)

[ckanowsk]

Does anyone know whose version of "Bill Bailey" that is at 0:55?

[MrAgod92]

why is there so much hate on youtube, i dont fully understand what is being said either but im not insulting anyone to make up for the fact that some of this is going over my head

[kelnaldinho]

@MrAgod92

There is so much hate on youtube because of the security of anonymity...Sorry for my english ,I'm french but I think you understood me

[mrtony80]

Is that Harvey Kitel out there?

[kisbie]

@mrtony80 Waiter, this Harvey Keitel is Cornish! Bring me a fresh one!

[childofanew]

Can I just point out that there are indeed Americans that are worldly, who don't pride ourselves on being the pricks of the world with no knowledge of anything outside of our walled borders.

I mean, granted, there's probably not many of us, but we do exist.

[Sunlight70]

@childofanew Quite right too, sir. Most of the septic's I've met are diamonds. :-)

[blobby1972]

@childofanew well said , now I am off to find a unicorn.

[apocaRUFF]

@childofanew What, what? Walled borders? Also, I run into more ass holes from England and France than any other country. But I guess that's because I go to websites where the main goal isn't to be an ass hole, but rather have fun and discuss certain subjects that the people visiting have a shared interest in.

Anyways, what I'm trying to say is: If you look for ass holes, you'll find them. If you don't look for ass holes, you wont run into many.

[MrWarrenLO]

@childofanew

Lies.

[wildvenisson]

@childofanew I can only imagine how great it must be to be a worldly American. I'm British but I realise that actually knowing what sarcasm is, rhyming slang and other such word play must be fantastically entertaining when you return home. In the words of Reg D Hunter "It took me two weeks to figure out he insulted me" XD.

[TVLover1995]

@childofanew and from one to another, I thank you for the well-worded comment :)

[360cbh]

@childofanew It's nice to meet you then.

[TheSaintAza]

@childofanew nice too finally meet one

[icantgetitup]

@childofanew I'm delighted to say I am one of them

[Daleksaresupreme1]

@childofanew glad to hear it. i think i should visit america before i juge it

[jeneshisugakuto]

@childofanew Indeed, I have met many of you.

[AlineWonders]

@childofanew Yes, indeed. Although, I do not know how the rest of the world views on us Americans haha.

[njdevil281]

@childofanew Why is it on every video some prick with an inferiority complex feels the need to speak for 300 million people?? fuck off.

[shploomp]

@childofanew well there's at least 335 of you

[natkli65]

@childofanew You'd have to be an ignorant idiot who believes whatever they hear and watch on tv to believe something like that!

[ensouls]

I love hearing rhyming slang even if I can't always keep up with it. It's probably the only slang that requires MORE cleverness than using the language vanilla. Or one of few examples, at least.

[DianaCravey]

Hey- What does "Bob's your uncle" mean?

[inswoon]

@DianaCravey Basically a conclusion of something. For example, "...you then plug it in and Bob's your uncle".

[IAmLedsterOo]

@DianaCravey

It means "Simple as that"

[Kodetsu]

wish i knew who sang that version of Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey ><;

[kation]

@Kodetsu It's Patsy Cline! I can't find that version on YouTube but I'm sure you can find it somewhere

[AngelBiLove]

what a load of poney!

[buster007ish]

I went down the frog and toad (road) for a ball of chalk (walk), with my greengages (wages) in my sky rocket (pocket), saw my old china plate (mate) who told me him and the trouble and strife (wife) had just had some barney rubble (trouble) with the skin and blister (sister)...so now you know, well, that much at least!!

[Eddtastic100]

@buster007ish listen you berk, put your germans up on the table or ill kick your aris=aristottle=bottle and glass=ass

[DrUmbreon]

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

Basically sums it up.

[leoseries]

This is not true rhyming slang. Any true cockney will recognise it as a load of "ORCHESTRAS" Stephen Fry is a right "IRON." and deserves a kick up the "KHYBER" The others are just a bunch of "MERCHANTS."

[pacmandem]

@leoseries youre trying too ard boss

[WebCamCartmell]

@leoseries Shut up and go back to pick pocketing.

[Aristosek]

is any subs possible for this ?

[buster007ish]

I'm English, and I don't either, so that makes two of us!!

[issyvoo2]

@buster007ish Oh good. That makes me feel better.

[bleedBL]

I'm American...and that was actually pretty funny....I guess you'd have to know what Cockney Is to have any idea whats going on.

[guns102]

those are some nice Bristol Cities ^^

guess what that means ;)

[buster007ish]

@guns102 Titties

[scrap222666]

@guns102 titties?

[guns102]

@scrap222666 Big ol' Titties :P

[lessavit]

Barney Ruble = "Trouble" not Double....

When used in context.....

"Hes having a barney with his misses" = "hes having an argument with his misses"

[WhiteTiger225]

@lessavit I always love slang term evolution.

Barney Rubble = Trouble

here in the US Gay had some fun transformations

Gay = Pleasent = Happy = Flamboyant = Gay

In a sense slang evolution is like a game of "Term for Term" XD

[Minty210]

I had to keep pausing for my brain to process what they were on about. If I'd actually been on that panel I'd probably be under the desk rocking back and forth, my mind having gone completely around the bend.

[jedidoctor]

Just for the record, I'm American and I can fairly easily figure out Cockney Rhyming Slang. This version just cracked me up so hard, though. Would never have gotten what he wanted from the "lubricant." Haha.It's also a little different when you translate from one word to one that might be more used in England or London but not likely America, so that's double the head work in some cases. Sometimes my husband and I play around and do Americanized Cockney Rhyming Slang. Pretty messed up. XD

[ankur9211]

hey rave ....it so mcuh fun when u do cockney ...dog-n-bone that means phone......barney rubble that means trouble and so many more

[daroushka]

boy, you do have most americans down for that, lol (and yes i do say that as an american)

[daroushka]

boy, you do have amost americans down for that, lol (and yes i do say that as an american)

[Anthonyplaybass]

my brain.. it are broke

[somegermangeek]

I was temporarily disoriented after “…let’s have a look at our four guests.”

[KidsWithGuns1992]

I love rhyming slang, and "English-English" speak. Especially in Austin powers when his father is chatting to him about the women.

[Natemire]

For all the Canucks out there, does Phil Jupitus look like Ricky from trailer park boys? He doesn't any more, but it seem back then he did.

[LoveTimeLord]

I need my glasses..i thought Alan Davis was James may at first. haha

[majordbag2]

I've seen this video before and I have to ask what do they mean by "Woman who does"?

[TheAnn2shoes]

@majordbag2  Years ago, a woman who came to clean your house was known as, 'a woman who does'.

[pyrofella]

Most Americans haven't got a clue about anything...except how to piss off the rest of the world.

[AtheistVanguard]

@pyrofella That's because we have the Jersey Shore to watch :) Our most intellectually driven show next to 16 and Pregnant.

[kinganarkzie]

@AtheistVanguard I watched an episode once and I could not work out there ethnicity. What are they white with fake tans, espanic or something all togather diffrent, I'm sure its all just a jersey thing.

[AtheistVanguard]

@kinganarkzie They're Italian with fake tans. On a side note, I find it very depressing that I happen to know that.

[honeymonster147]

Welcome to the only variation of the english language which rivals the american variation for utter stupidity (Y) (even though cockney slang is for the superminds of the world)

[kingdomofheaven666]

bullet proof vests= guests XD I guess

[bertini51]

fucking stupid fuckin adds

[CaptVickHartnell]

I thought Barney meant Trouble.

[PocketsOfBlue]

My brain feels like how Alan looks.... LOL oh my

[EilisM]

There was an episode in the first season of The Good Life (Good Neighbors in America) that described "Cockney rhyming slang" more slowly and with better detail. Basically, it's a word game that combines rhyming with ad libs, so that random words in an otherwise normal sentence will be replaced (as in ad libs) by a seemingly nonsensical word that alludes to another word or phrase that rhymes with the meaningful word it replaces.

[broxx44]

@EilisM cockney rhyming slang isnt actually a word game you garden tool. its slang, as alluded to in the phrase "cockney rhyming slang"

[MissTwiggy28]

Stephen: You woman..

Others: Whattheactualhell?!

[AmusingYeti]

Its getting a bit cold in here; could someone turn up the Ronan Keating?

[somegermangeek]

@AmusingYeti That would be “the Ronan” only. ;-p

[kohahh]

I hope they won't speak to me like that if i ever go to England!

[PinkNinjaNews]

@kohahh dont worry you saw alan "what the fuck are you talking about"

[aragornfan22]

This humor is so much better than trashy American humor. xD

[Hutcarlingos]

Can somebody explain this to me?

[NPM92]

If anyone's wondering "3 stops from Plaistow" means 3 stops before (or after) Plaistow underground station on the District Line i.e. Barking, as in barking mad

[lillyshak]

Um... ?

[2BCBattlefield]

Na isn´t thou rubbish glibbery toby ding dong

No seriously I have lost my accent for good : /

[MrPmj1979]

Stephen Fry is very very gay! :-D

[JPsSuperStairway]

@MrPmj1979 well done -.-

[lampard554]

Middle class rhyming slang haha

Labrador groom-er, rumour

[andyncfcgetshypedup]

100% Funny. Damn Funny. I died with this good programme.

[gerardthebutler]

Cockney rhyming slang, an argot originating in the East End of London where common words are replaced by rhyming couplets and one or other parts is then omitted. e,g. wife = trouble and strife, hence " I said to the strife . . . " Countless examples have since passed into everyday usage - which is just as well as the true Cockney no longer exists, having been driven out by either rich yuppies or new immigrants.

[fistfulofzoom]

@gerardthebutler You've been up the apples too long me old china. It's the part that dosen't rhyme that's used. In your example trouble stands for wife. :)

[raverkansascity]

I'm american and don't have the slightest idea what i just watched

[TheLkvoice]

@raverkansascity Excellent.............our plan is working....................nex­t us and the King are coming over to test your right to bear Arms............or is it arming bears?

[kiminokami]

@TheLkvoice I thought you Brits were up on knowing history well enough to know that the last time you tested our right to bear arms, it did not necessarily end up in your traditionally understood objective favor.

[TheLkvoice]

@kiminokami I much prefer the right to bare breasts anyway

[00Billy]

@kiminokami

The British didn't test it.....The American Rebels did. The USA was considered the same as Australia to British society.

Tea act? 20% of tea was already smuggled in by the dutch......Americans were little whiny sucks. Nothings changed.

[kiminokami]

@00Billy How many ways would you like me to interpret your commentary to the effect of eviscerating your arguments?

[00Billy]

@kiminokami

You cant that's why you didn't...

hey look a bartender with a dictionary.

[kiminokami]

@00Billy I'm not used to Brits being so afraid.

[00Billy]

@kiminokami

You were late for 2 WW's i&II ...whose afraid..lol

yeah British north america is a bit more educated...sorry.



[kiminokami]

@00Billy Everybody knows that the WWs were fuckups by non-Americans. If it wasn't for Americans stepping in, there would just be The German Empire and the Russian Expanse/Empire and nothing else in Europe. That is only if we are talking about the immediate political consequences.