Street
butcher's hook
What does butcher's hook mean?
Cockney rhyming slang for 'look', almost always shortened to 'butcher's'.
"Have a butcher's at this — you won't believe what he's wearing."
Origin
'Hook' rhymes with 'look'; a butcher's hook is the S-shaped hook meat hangs on. One of the most enduring examples.
Frequently asked questions
What does "butcher's hook" mean?
It's Cockney rhyming slang for "look," nearly always shortened to just "butcher's" — as in "have a butcher's."
Why does "butcher's hook" mean look?
The rhyme works because "hook" rhymes with "look"; a butcher's hook is the S-shaped hook meat hangs on.
How do you use "have a butcher's"?
Use it to invite someone to take a look, e.g. "have a butcher's at this."
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