2002.02.19
I've been thinking a bit about Cockney Rhyming Slang, where the speaker substitutes some common word with a word or phrase that rhymes with it, like "he hit him right in his Chevy Chase" instead of "right in his face". You can hear a bit of it in Guy Ritchie's movies, Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. I found a pretty interesting English/Cockney Rhyming Slang glossary. (click on "View Dictionary") It's interesting trying to see which ones are just rhymes and which ones might have another layer of meaning.
Reminds me of my old boss who would sometimes say farewell with "esca-lator". Later I realized a lot of phrases would fit that pattern: "mashed-p'tater", "some ice skater", "that Ralph Nader", etc etc.
Dialog of the Moment
"They're armed."
"Armed, armed with what?"
"Err, bad breath, colorful language, feather duster... what do you think they're gonna be armed with? Guns, you tit!"