Street
grasshopper
What does grasshopper mean?
Cockney rhyming slang for a copper (police officer); the clipped 'grass' came to mean an informer.
"Watch what you say — there's a grasshopper about."
Origin
'Grasshopper' rhymes with 'copper'; traditional London rhyming slang.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'grasshopper' mean in Cockney slang?
It's rhyming slang for a copper, meaning a police officer.
Is 'grasshopper' where the word 'grass' comes from?
Yes, the theory is that 'grasshopper' was clipped to 'grass', which then came to mean an informer who tips off the police.
Why does 'grasshopper' mean copper?
In rhyming slang the ending carries the meaning: 'grasshopper' rhymes with 'copper'.
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