General
apples and pears
What does apples and pears mean?
Trotted out as the go-to example whenever someone explains what Cockney rhyming slang actually is.
"He started with 'apples and pears means stairs' like every tour guide ever."
Origin
Classic East End London rhyming slang dating to at least the mid-1800s. It's the most quoted example of the form, possibly from old market-stall fruit displays stacked in tiers like steps.
Frequently asked questions
What does apples and pears mean in slang?
It's Cockney rhyming slang for stairs. 'Pears' rhymes with 'stairs', and Londoners often clip it to just 'apples'.
Why do people shorten it to just 'apples'?
Cockney slang usually drops the rhyming word so outsiders can't follow, so 'apples and pears' becomes 'apples' once you're in on it.
Is apples and pears still used in London?
It survives mostly as a nostalgic or jokey phrase now, but it's so famous it's basically shorthand for Cockney itself.
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