General
syrup of figs
What does syrup of figs mean?
A wig or hairpiece. 'Syrup of figs' rhymes with 'wig', and is clipped to 'syrup', dropping the rhyme.
"You can tell that's a syrup of figs a mile off."
Origin
Twentieth-century East End rhyming slang on 'wig', borrowing the name of Syrup of Figs, a once-common laxative familiar from every chemist; product-name rhymes are typical of Cockney, within the slang tradition recorded since Hotten 1859.
Frequently asked questions
What does syrup of figs mean in Cockney?
It means a wig. 'Figs' rhymes with 'wig', and it's shortened to 'syrup'.
Why 'syrup of figs'?
It borrows the name of a once-popular laxative everyone knew from the chemist, giving a ready rhyme for 'wig'.
Is syrup for wig still used?
Yes, 'syrup' for a wig or toupee is one of the better-known surviving rhyming-slang terms.
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