General
plates and dishes
What does plates and dishes mean?
A cheeky way to refer to whoever's in charge at home.
"Ask the plates and dishes, she sorts all the holiday stuff."
Origin
East End London rhyming slang where 'plates and dishes' rhymes with 'missus'. It's one of several jokey Cockney terms for a wife, alongside 'trouble and strife'.
Frequently asked questions
What does plates and dishes mean?
It's Cockney rhyming slang for missus, meaning a wife or female partner. It rhymes with 'missus'.
How is plates and dishes different from trouble and strife?
Both mean wife — 'plates and dishes' rhymes with 'missus' while 'trouble and strife' rhymes with 'wife'.
Is plates and dishes affectionate?
Yes, it's generally a warm, jokey term for a long-term partner rather than an insult.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
