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Laura Grainger

From Jo Maxi to Brenda Frickers: the rhyming slang Dubs grew up with

Look at any list of literary greats and you’ll see a large number of Irish writers.

The degree to which we’ve acquired such command of a language imposed on us is impressive. And not just in writing - in our day-to-day way of speaking, too.

As Oscar Wilde once profoundly put it: “The Saxon took our lands from us and left them desolate. We took their language and added new beauties to it.”

Read more: Mispronunciations that make perfect sense to anyone who grew up in Dublin

Dublin rhyming slang is certainly an example of such beauty. Between clever cultural references and their often rhythmic delivery, it’s incredible how such colloquialisms make the most ordinary thing sound poetic.

While a lot would argue that the practice - and some of the phrases themselves - is taken from our next-door neighbours, it might actually be the opposite. Some linguists have suggested that Cockney rhyming slang was brought about by Irish immigrants working on docks or railways in 19th Century London.

Regardless of which ones are unique to us and which ones overlap with Cockney rhyming slang, the following phrases will likely be familiar to anyone who grew up in working class Dublin. Have a read and see if you remember hearing any of these at home, from a pal or in the pub over the years.

Skin and blister - sister

“Tell your skin and blister the dinner’s ready.”

One and other - brother

“Me one and other’s gettin’ married next week.”

Brenda Frickers - knickers (after the Irish actress)

“That wind is somethin’ else, me Brenda Frickers are clingin’ onto the line for dear life!”

Brenda Fricker holds up her Oscar after winning Best Supporting Actress for her role in My Left Foot at the 62nd Academy Awards, 1990. (Bettmann/Getty Images)

Padraig Pearse - fierce (after the Irish revolutionary)

“Jaysus, the smell in the jacks is Padraig Pearse!”

Jo Maxi - taxi

“Are yiz righ’? The Jo Maxi’s outside.”

Read more: Throwback photos that will bring you back to 1990s' Dublin

Jeyes Fluid - nude (after the cleaning brand)

“The window cleaner nearly caught me in me Jeyes Fluid.”

Jackanory - story

“What’s the Jackanory with Saturday, are we still headin’ out?”

Packie Bonner - goner (after the Irish goalkeeper)

“If me ma finds out, I’ll be a Packie Bonner!”

Tin roofer - spoofer

“Don’t mind him, he’s a bleedin’ tin roofer.”

Read more: Mispronunciations that make perfect sense to anyone who grew up in Dublin

Brown bread - dead

“Bobby’s back on Dallas? I thought he was brown bread?”

Still from the TV series Dallas, 1979. (CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)

Jack Palancin' - dancin’ (after the American actor)

“We went out for a few scoops and a bitta Jack Palancin’.”

Jack and Jill - contraceptive pill

“She’s up the duff? Was she not on the aul’ Jack and Jill?”

Daniel Day - Luas (actor Daniel Day-Lewis’s name rhymes with that of the Dublin tram system)

“I better head before I miss the Daniel Day.”

Read more: Fascinating snapshots of Dublin life in the 1970s

Tennis racket - jacket

“Here, pass us me tennis racket, just in case.”

Ball of snot - mot (girlfriend)

“I’m meetin’ me ball of snot after work.”

Rhythm ‘n blues/Ones and twos - shoes

“Throw on your ones and twos and give us a hand, will ye?”

On me tobler (shortened from ‘on me Toblerone’) - on my own

“She went off and left me standin’ there on me tobler like an eejit.”

Read more: Photos capture the spirit of Ballymun through the years

Seamus Heaney - bikini (after the Irish writer)

“Didje remember to pack your Seamus Heaney?”

A couple sunbathing on a beach in June 1982. (Independent News and Media/Getty Images)

Lee Marvin/Hank Marvin - starvin’ (after the Hollywood actor and the English musician)

“Ah lads, where’s our food? I’m Hank bleedin’ Marvin.”

Trouble and strife - wife

“I can’t stay for another one, I’ve to go home to me trouble and strife.”

Harry and Dick - sick

“He’s not workin’ at the minute, he’s been on the Harry and Dick since he broke his leg.”

Read more: From the Drake Inn to Floppy the Dog: a look-back at Finglas through the years

Cream-crackered - knackered (exhausted)

“I can’t wait ‘til the day is done, I’m absolutely cream-crackered.”

Jam jar - car

“I wanna bring me jam jar for a wash before the NCT tomorrow.”

Ruby Murray - curry (after the Belfast-born singer)

“Have youse tried the new Chinese? Their Ruby Murray is unreal.”

Read more: Things you could do in 1980s Dublin that you can’t do today

Not the Mae West - not the best

“She’s not feelin’ the Mae West so I’m keepin’ her home from school.”

Boat race/Brendan Grace - face (the latter after the Irish comedian)

“C’mere and I clean your Brendan Grace, you’ve sauce everywhere.”

Tim Tiddle - piddle

“Will ye hurry up, I’m burstin’ for a Tim Tiddle!”

A public urinal on the banks of the River Liffey, 1971. (H. J. Allen/Evening Standard/Getty Images)

Tea leaf - thief

“That young fella’s a tea leaf, he’s always gettin’ caught shopliftin’.”

Tin of fruit - suit

“Me tin of fruit has a hole in it, I’ll have to ask me ma to do a job on it.”

Read more: Local tour guide unveils fascinating history of Ballybough from kings to pirates

Paddy Power - shower (after the bookies)

“Do us a favour and throw on the hot water for me Paddy Power.”

Johnny Giles - piles (after the Irish footballer)

“I’ve to head to the doctor, I’ve a bad case of the Johnny Giles.”

Adam and Eve it - believe it

“I don’t Adam and Eve it, yer man’s after bein’ sacked!”

Are we missing any other clean ones? Let us know in the comments below.

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