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darby and joan
What does darby and joan mean?
Cockney rhyming slang for 'moan' (to complain), and separately a byword for a devoted old married couple.
"He does nothing but darby and joan about his knees."
Origin
'Joan' rhymes with 'moan'; Darby and Joan are the archetypal contented old couple of an 18th-century ballad.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'darby and joan' mean?
In Cockney rhyming slang it means to moan or complain, because 'Joan' rhymes with 'moan'. Separately, 'a Darby and Joan' is a devoted old married couple.
Where does the phrase Darby and Joan come from?
Darby and Joan are the archetypal happy old couple from an 18th-century ballad, which is why 'Darby and Joan clubs' for the elderly took the name.
Does it mean to complain or a couple?
Both, depending on context. As a verb it means to moan; as a noun it describes an inseparable elderly couple.
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