General
adam and eve
What does adam and eve mean?
A rhetorical way of saying 'can you believe it?'.
"Rained on the one day we booked the garden, would you Adam and Eve it."
Origin
East End London rhyming slang from the early 1900s, where 'Adam and Eve' rhymes with 'believe'. It survives almost entirely in the set phrase 'would you Adam and Eve it?'.
Frequently asked questions
What does Adam and Eve mean in Cockney?
It means to believe. 'Adam and Eve' rhymes with 'believe', mostly used in 'would you Adam and Eve it?'.
What does 'would you Adam and Eve it' mean?
It means 'would you believe it?' — an expression of surprise or disbelief in Cockney rhyming slang.
Is Adam and Eve still used today?
It survives mainly in the fixed phrase 'would you Adam and Eve it', which Brits still use for comic effect.
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