General
mince pies
What does mince pies mean?
The eyes. 'Mince pies' rhymes with 'eyes', and is clipped to 'minces', dropping the rhyme.
"Get your mince pies round that for a sight."
Origin
Victorian East End rhyming slang on 'eyes', borrowing the festive mince pie; food rhymes recur throughout London slang and 'mince pies' features in nineteenth-century collections within the tradition Hotten began in 1859.
Frequently asked questions
What does mince pies mean?
It's Cockney rhyming slang for eyes. 'Pies' rhymes with 'eyes', shortened to 'minces'.
Where did mince pies come from?
From Victorian-era East End speech, using the familiar mince pie for the rhyme on 'eyes'.
Is mince pies still heard?
Yes, 'mince pies' or 'minces' for eyes remains a well-known piece of rhyming slang.
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