Rhyming slang

Rhyming slang is a linguistic playfulness originating from 19th-century London, where phrases are replaced by rhyming expressions. Typically, a word or phrase is substituted with another that rhymes with it, then often shortened. For example, "stairs" becomes "apples and pears," and later just "apples." This creates a code understood within a specific community but confusing to outsiders. Rhyming slang adds humor and flair to language, serving as a form of social identity and linguistic creativity, especially prominent in Cockney speech.