Only Fools and Horses: A to Z
A
Aida
Uncle Albert’s one-time former wife who we never see but is fondly remembered by
the ‘Captain Birdseye’ lookalike.
Alan
Cassandra’s dad likes a drink and has a penchant for jellied eels. Runs his own
printing works and employs Rodney.
Alright
Pronounced ‘Awright’, often used by Del Boy in combination with ‘Awright
Rodders.”
April
Nothing to do with the month but refers to the ‘heart’ or ‘ticker’, as in the phrase “My
old April”.
Aubrey
Boycie’s middle name.
B
Bandy
To ‘Knock ’em bandy’ means to impress or deliver a knock-out performance.
Bark
Used to denote a miserable old person, as in “old bark”.
Barry
‘Dirty Barry’ who owns a sex shop and sells Del the blow up dolls.
Becker
Dr. Becker is the Trotter family’s longstanding GP. We do get to see him in one
episode.
Bengal
The ‘Star of Bengal’ is Del’s local takeaway.
Bertie
A grass or informer, named after the real life Bertie Smalls.
Billy goat
Rhyming slang for coat.
Bob Martins
Rhyming slang for vitamins, named after the UK’s pet healthcare brand.
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Blinding
Another of Del Boy’s favourite words, which means brilliant, fantastic or that muchused Americanism, ‘awesome’.
Boat
Slang for face (boat race).
Brahma
A stunning girl, as used in the phrase “she’s a right brahma”, named after one of the
Hindu gods.
Brassic
This is a synonym for ‘potless’ or ‘skint’ to mean a lack of liquidity.
Brendan
Brendan O’Shaughnessy is the burly Irish builder that we see in some of the early
episodes and who Del calls ‘Mouth Almighty’. Puts the fear of God into Rodney.
Brill
Short for brilliant, this word is up there with t’rfic, one of Del’s favoutite words.
Bruv
Shortened version of brother, which is what Del Boy often calls Rodney.
C
Capri Ghia
Second hand motorcar that “handles like Maradona”. Del buys it off Boycie for the
princely sum of £400 so the pregnant Raquel has a run-a-round. Rodney baptises it
the ‘pratmobile’. Registration number UYO 177R.
Card
When someone is trying to be funny, as in “He’s a card”.
Cash
Cashflow is usually never a problem for recession-proof Del Boy as he’s always got
something tucked away for a rainy day. “Cash on the hip” is a favourite expression.
Charlton
Rodney’s middle name, in honour of the actor Charlton Heston, is revealed on his
wedding day much to his annoyance but has the congregation in raptures.
Chimbley
Alternative pronunciation of chimney.
Choker
“Aaaah, that’ a choker ain’t it!” says Del Boy on many an occasion to feign vicarious
disappointment.
Chubb
Named after the eponymous manufacturer, “Put the chubb on”, means lock your door.
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Chuck
Slang for ‘throw’ as in “to chuck a bash”.
Clump
To ‘clump’ means to strike someone on the side of the head, as in ‘clump round the
earhole’.
Cop
As in the widely used phrase, “You’ll cop an unfortunate one, Rodney” – see clump.
Corinne
The famous canary episode, when the boys end up having to buy a replacement
yellow canary for Denzil’s wife after her beloved pet dies from smoke inhalation.
Cosmic
Rodney’s favourite word, which he uses to voice his discontent in a somewhat
sarcastic manner. ‘Cos-meek’ is the antithesis to ‘cushty’.
Councillor Murray
The famous batman and robin episode when the two brothers come to the rescue of
the traumatised Peckham councillor following a gang assault.
Cream crackered
One of Del Boy’s favourite words to mean tired – rhyming slang for ‘knackered’.
Cushty
Often exclaimed by Del Boy after rubbing his hands with glee and signifies a moneymaking venture gone well or just a state of happiness. Arguably the most widely
uttered Del Boy-ism.
Cynthia
Meaning pain (in the physical sense), this is another example of ‘Sarf’ London slang.
So-called after Cynthia Payne, the famous ‘party planner’.
D
Dave
The name that Trigger calls Rodney much to the bafflement of Del’s younger brother.
Deportation
When Grandad lands in jail for jaywalking, the boys learn the real reason behind the
arrest: he was deported from Spain and all her territories for gun running during the
Civil War.
Dipstick
This is another term of endearment along with ‘dippy’ for his brother Rodney. Origins
lie in the dipstick, the gauge that measures the oil level in a car engine.
Divvy
Or div, slang for idiot.
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Dora
Marlene’s mother, whose suitors include Uncle Albert and ‘Knock Knock’.
Dough
Slang for money. As in a bit of the old dough-re-mi.
Doughboy
Slang for a blow or punch.
Doynk
Verb used to describe sexual intercourse.
Driscolls
The Driscoll brothers – Danny and Tony – are Peckham’s answer to the Kray twins.
Drum
Slang term for flat or apartment.
Duffel
The bag Uncle Albert uses to carry his belongings.
Duke
To most people, the legendary American western actor John Wayne but in Only
Fools, the only Duke is Boycie’s dog, a pedigree Great Dane. Marlene adores the pup
and calls it ‘Dukey Wookey’.
Dymchurch
It was in this small south east coast village in Kent that Del Boy lands on a television
pole following his unfortunate dalliance with a hanglider.
E
Elsie Partridge
Uncle Albert’s lady friend and medium, she appears in the classic séance episode.
Eugene
Along with the Driscolls, Eugene McCarthy is another of Peckham’s mobsters.
F
Fence
To put something through the fence signifies to sell stolen goods.
Filbert
Slang for the head. “Use your filbert” means use your brain.
Freddy the frog
Freddy Robdall aka Freddy the Frog for his underwater exploits. Famed ‘bon viveur’
and dandy, we never meet this character who sends the brothers on a fruitless treasure
hunt.
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G
Gallicism
‘Pardon my French’ as the old saying goes and in Del Boy’s case this couldn’t be
more apt. Time and again he resorts to his very special interpretation of the Gallic
language and has us in stitches every single time. There are so many examples that
these warrant a chapter in their own right.
Gandhi’s revenge
Synonym for ‘Delhi Belly’ with particular reference to the post-curry tummy
experience.
Gordon Bennett
Commonly used exclamation by Del Boy.
Gregory
Rhyming slang for neck (Gregory Peck).
Groovy
Rodney’s favourite adopted word as he joins in the fun and games of the teenage
‘Groovy Gang’ in Spain.
Gubbins
Preceded by old to mean rubbish.
H
Handsome
In Del parlance, this word comes to mean plentiful or in abundance. Used in
association with food, “That’s handsome”.
Helga
An old flame of Uncle Albert’s from his time serving in Germany.
Herbert
Name in reference to any individual in much the same way as you would use Tom,
Dick or Harry. “Snotty-nosed Herbert” is a classic example.
Hodgkins
Terry Hodgkins is the police officer who Slater barks orders at. Has the last laugh
when his superior is put away for diamond smuggling.
Hooky
Synonym for ‘knocked off’ to describe stolen goods. ‘Hooky Street’ is central to the
shows’ theme tune.
Hubbard
As in the saying, “That’s a lot of old mother hubbard”, to mean a load of old rubbish.
Named after the eponymous nursery rhyme character.
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Hump
Pronounced ‘ump’ as in the phrase ‘you’re giving me the right ump’, in other words
you’re getting on my nerves.
Humpty Dumpty
Named after the children’s nursery rhyme, it is also used to describe unbridled
passion.
I
Invalid
Pronounced “invaleed” widely used word to refer to immobility.
J
Jackanory
Expression used for telling lies or ‘fibbing’ – named after the eponymous kids TV
programme.
Jacksy
Slang for arse.
Jaffa
The seedless orange that originates from the city in Israel that bears the same name,
the word emphasises Boycie’s difficulties in the procreation department.
Jahan
Owner of the local undertaker’s who gives Rodney a job.
Jevon
One of Rodney’s best friends, here is a slick mover both on and off the dance floor.
John
Whenever Del Boy tries to impress – usually in a bar scene – he tends to call the
barman ‘John’ (or ‘Juan’ as in the Spanish prison episode).
Jolly
A ‘jolly up’ means a ‘knees up’ in the pub sense of the word. The Jolly boys outing is
the annual jamboree to Margate organised by Del Boy. Fireworks guaranteed.
Jonah
Alluding to someone that is jinxed or plain unlucky, the origin dates back to the
eponymous biblical prophet who was swallowed by a fish.
Jubbly
Always qualified and preceded by ‘lovely’, one of Del Boy’s most popular
catchphrases both in his personal and business dealings.
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Jumbo
Another of Del’s old friends and former market partners, Jumbo Mills has made it big
in Australia and returns to Peckham. Offers Del Boy the chance to join him Down
Under and share in his success. We actually meet the same character in another guise
(although still playing the part of an Aussie) in one of the early episodes.
K
Kazi
Slang term for toilet.
Kermit
Same as above – “Down the Kermit” is slang for toilet in reference to Kermit the Frog
or ‘bog’.
Kimosabe
Tonto’s greeting for the Lone Ranger. Used by Reg to further ostracise Del Boy from
the family fold following the tampered blood test results.
Kippah
Used in the phrase, “Done up like a kippah” to mean stitched up, shafted or conned
Named after Jewish skull cap.
Knock Knock
One of Uncle Albert’s old school friends, so called for his domino playing, who gives
the ‘able’ seaman a black eye.
Knock off
Verb frequently used to refer to stolen or ‘knocked off’ merchandise.
Knock out
Del Boy knocks out or sells ‘knocked off’ gear.
Knocking
Preceded by the word ‘last’ to mean last orders.
L
Lacano
This gets a fleeting mention most memorably when the subject of Rodney’s father
comes up. Was a trumpet player at the Lacano club.
Lennox
The naïve youth who gets coerced into holding up a supermarket by its own manager
and head of security, but eventually talked out of it by Del Boy and manages to land
himself the security job.
Lick
Going at a fair old lick, which means travelling at velocity.
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Line
Market jargon referring to a product, as in “We’re doing a lovely line in …”
Livener
As in “a couple of quick liveners” in reference to a drop of alcohol to get the evening
going.
Louis
‘Eyetalian Louie’, the pet shop owner, who sells Grandad the yellow canary (see
Corinne).
Lughole
Slang for ear.
Lumber
To be left with something unwanted, as in ‘dead lumber’ or dead wood.
M
Malapropism
The show is built around Del Boy’s colourful use of language and in particular the
way he gets words mixed up and is more often than not corrected by Rodney.
Manky
Slang for dirty.
Martin Luther King
Name of the comprehensive school attended by Del and chums. Remember the
famous school reunion surprise for Class 4C of 1962 organised by Chief Inspector
Slater?
Mental Micky
Somewhat deranged lead singer of a band which has Rodney as its drummer and Del
Boy as its manager. Later makes it onto Top of the Pops much to Rodney’s chagrin.
Millwall
The ‘Lions’ are the local professional football team from South East London,
mentioned for their lack of success. As fate would have it, they did in fact almost win
the Cup when they reached the final in 2004, for the first time in their 119-year
history.
Millionaires
“This time next year Rodders we’ll be meal-ionaires”. The most famous Del Boyism
of the lot and the dream does indeed become reality when they discover a priceless
pocket watch in their garage.
Monkey
A term used to denote the value of 500 pounds. Also the nickname of one of Del’s
business associates and former school chums ‘Monkey’ Harris (played left back in the
school football team). We never get to see this character but he is a regular ‘phone’
presence throughout the episodes.
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Mucker
Synonym for pal or friend as in the phrase, “Me old mucker”.
Mum
Joan Mavis Trotter (Joanie) the deceased mother (12 March 1964) who acts as a
guardian and angel figure. Often brought up by Del Boy when he wants Rodney to
agree with his plan: “What mum said on her deathbed …”
Mush
Refers to a random geezer or bloke. The word gets a mention in the theme tune.
Mutton
Slang for deaf.
N
Nag’s Head
Del and the gang’s local, a regular meeting place for a good old knees-up and a sing
along.
Nark
A police informer as in “copper’s nark.”
Nause
The adjective means annoying or irritating, as in “that’s a right old nause”; as a verb
“to nause up” means to mess something up.
Nelson Mandela House
The estate where the Trotters live, named after the great South African statesman. The
full address is number 368, Dockside Estate, Nelson Mandela House, Peckham.
Nelson Riddle
Going for a number one.
Nerys
‘Nervous’ Nerys, a girl Rodney asks out on a date and who ends up being scared
witless in a car chase.
New Delhi
Rhymes with ‘belly’ and signifies anything to do with the stomach. Has probable
links to the expression, “Delhi Belly”.
Nijinski
Both a famous Russian ballet dancer and a racehorse (which was named after the
dancer).
Niperoony
Term of endearment for a nipper or little kid.
Nitto/Nix
One of several words used to mean having no money or having nothing.
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Noddle
Synonym for brain, as in the expression “Use your noddle”.
O
Occhetti
Surname of the mafia don and Del Boy lookalike, which lands the brothers in a heap
of trouble during their ill-fated trip to Miami, Florida.
Olly
Olly the Greaser is an acquaintance of Del Boy’s that we meet in the Nag’s Head.
P
Paddy
Paddy the Greek is another of Del Boy’s associates.
Pal
One of the many colloquialisms, ‘pal’ is one of Del’s favourites and widely used to
signify friend or mate.
Peckham
This is the vibrant and bustling borough in South London where all the residents live.
The name the brothers also give to their spring water. Peckham High Road is the main
street while the local paper is the Peckham Echo. Our Lady of the Divine ‘Rosemary’
is the local place of worship. And Peckham Spring, which comes from an ancient and
natural spring’, is at least for a while the at least best selling water.
Pedro
The phrase ‘No way Pedro’ means not a chance in hell in the sense of not doing
something. ‘No way Jose’ is a derivative of the aforementioned although quite why
these two Spanish Christian names (Peter and John respectively) crop up remains a
mystery.
Pervo
Abbreviation for pervert.
Pina Colada
The rum and pineapple concoction, complete with cocktail umbrella, is Del Boy’s
signature beverage.
Plonker
No word quite captures the essence of Rodney. Used in classic phrases such as, “You
are a 150% 24 carat plonker”.
Pony
A lie or total rubbish as in “That’s a load of old pony”.
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Pop
“Is he ‘avin a pop or what?” Del Boy would say to someone who is somewhat
pushing their luck.
Porky
Abbreviation of pork pie, which is rhyming slang for lie.
Potless
Synonym for brassic or skint. Empty pot equals no money.
Pranny
Synonym for wally to denote general ineptitude and uselessness.
Pug
The verb pug away means to hide or stash something away, mostly valuables.
Q
Quack
Slang for doctor.
Queso
The Spanish word for cheese, more commonly associated with smiling and pictures,
but comes to mean having an illicit relationship with the fairer sex.
R
Rabbit
“He’s got too much rabbit”. In other words, he talks too much in the sense of ‘giving
it large’. Origin from the quick mouth opening and closing action of a rabbit.
Randolph
As in Randolph Scott, rhyming slang for spot (zit).
Readies
Del Boy’s only currency of choice: readies and notes are all interchangeable
synonyms for notes or cash.
Reeny
Short for Irene, she is an old friend of the boys’ mother.
Reg
The boys’ father turns up to wreak havoc and cause friction between Del and Rodney
before being given his marching orders after faking an illness and trying to falsify his
sons’ medical results.
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Reliant Robin
The emblematic and iconic make of three-wheeled yellow van (registration numbers
seem to change APL 911H / DHV 936D / DHV 9380 / DHV 938D from two the early
episodes), which has the memorable signage, ‘Trotters Independent Traders – London
Paris New York’. The van serves the brothers well despite the dodgy exhaust.
Rico
The conniving and smooth-talking son of Don Occhetti who tries to get Del Boy
assassinated in the hope of saving his own father from a long jail term.
Rise
As in the phrase, “take the rise” which means to make fun of.
Rock ‘n’ roll
Slang for dole (also jam roll).
Ruby Murray
Rhyming slang for curry, the UK’s favourite takeaway. The curry house or Indian
restaurant is a favourite haunt of Del’s.
Rhythm and blues
Slang for shoes.
S
Sam and ella
One of Del’s classic linguistic bloopers, confusing the word with Salmonella, the well
known bacterium responsible for food poisoning.
Sandboy
As in the expression “Happy as a sandboy” to denote a state of nirvana.
Sarky
Short for sarcastic. “Don’t you get sarky with me, Rodney!” as Grandad said on
several occasions.
Saucy
The word means cheeky in south London parlance, as in ‘saucy git’.
Shell
Or ear, as in, “Can I have a word in your shell, like?”
Sheps
Del’s favourite song is ‘Old Shep’, the sad story of a man and his dog.
Shtuk
Derivative of the work stuck, as used in “dead shtuk” which is a synonym of “dead
lumber”, in other words, gear they cannot get rid of or obsolete stock.
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Sheepskin
Del Boy’s faithful coat later made famous by football manager, ‘Big’ Ron Atkinson
and commentator, John ‘Mottie’ Motson.
Shnide
Pejorative word to describe someone who is untrustworthy.
Sid
Best known for having a cigarette dangling from his mouth and the owner of the Old
Oak café, where the boys go for their greasy fry-up.
Slater
Chief Detective Inspector Roy ‘Bulldog’ Slater is the most loathed of all the
characters. Arranges a surprise school reunion but that’s not the only surprise he has
in store.
Smackeroonios
Slang for money.
Snide
Another word for grass, in the informer sense of the word.
Sprawnce
Slang for boast.
Solly
Solly Atwell is the solicitor that Del Boy uses to claim compensation for gross
negligence against a brewery when his uncle falls down a manhole.
Soppy
Frequently used when one of the brothers is feeling down. “You soppy old a
goat/duffer” is Delboy favourite.
Sort
Usually in reference to a good looking woman, as in “She’s a sort”.
Statellite
One of the many malapropisms (see separate entry) spoken by Del.
Steak
The steak meal is Del’s way of showing a girl a good time.
Swallowtail
The Jamaican swallowtail is an endangered species of butterfly, which fetches £3000.
Syrup
Syrup of fig is the cockney rhyming slang for wig.
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T
Tallyman
Door to door salesman of goods on credit.
Tart up
Verb used by Del when referring to making something more presentable (in a money
making sense).
Taters
Taters (potatoes) in the mould is rhyming slang for cold.
Tick
If something is on tick, it’s on credit.
Tightwad
To be a Scrooge – mean with your ‘wad’ or money.
Tom Dick
“I’m feeling Tom Dick”. This is rhyming slang for sick.
Tony
The Elvis impersonator with the fake tan and unknown food object lodged in his
nether regions, Tony cannot pronounce his ‘Rs’, as famously exposed when singing
‘Cwying’, the famous Roy Orbison track.
Toperoony
Slang for a top up, in the alcoholic sense of the word.
Towser
This character buys some faulty lawnmowers from Rodney as a favour to Del.
Trembler
Trotter’s trembler is the nickname for Uncle Albert’s alleged powerful punch.
Terrific
Pronounced “T’riffic” and used extensively by Rodney – the word means terrific but
in a sarcastic sense.
Tog out
Used in a fashion sense to mean to dress up in. Togged out is a synonym for decked
out.
Tosh
Talking rubbish as in “What a load of old tosh”.
Trotters Independent Traders
The family firm which ceases trading when the boys strike it big and become
millionaires.
Tuck up
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When Del wants to get you his own back or plot revenge, he tucks them up: “I’m
going to tuck that Micky Pearce up good and proper” or “You’ve been tucked up
something proper.”
Twonk
This word is preceded almost always by “Dozy little …” another classic Del Boyism.
Tyler
Boycie and Marlene’s baby son, who we occasionally see in his pram, all decked out
in leopardskin attire. And a much chubbier version, who goes on to star in the Green
Green Grass.
U
Unc
The man who sailed the seven seas. Take another bow, Uncle Albert.
V
Velox
The Vauxhall Velox, one of Delboy’s cars in the early episodes which he sells to help
pay for the porcelain statue of Kubera.
Vonnie
Short for Yvonne, an old flame of Del Boy’s who appears in some memorable
episodes. Her lonely hearts description might include red curls, GSOH, an ample
bosom and ‘hissing Sid’ the snake.
W
Wack
To endorse quality, a synonym for ‘knock’ as in “Can’t wack it”.
Wally
A synonym for plonker and dipstick, usually reserved for Rodney. Its noun derivative
‘wallyness’ also gets a mention as does ‘wally brain’.
Wilton
Slang for carpet – after Wilton carpets.
Worstest
Delboy’s very own version of the superlative ‘worst’.
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Y
Yipedy oys
Denote ruffians or uncultured members of the lower classes.
Yuppy
This is the era of the young and upwardly mobile professional, the City high roller
with the filofax and ‘Rolox’ that Del Boy so desperately wants to emulate.
Z
Zebedee
Bouncy character from cult kids’ classic, the Magic Roundabout. ‘Good old Del Boy,
he’s got more bounce than Zebedee.’
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