Barney Rubble
Pronunciation
/bˈɑːɹni ɹˈʌbəl/

Definition & Meaning of "Barney Rubble"in English

Barney Rubble
01

(Cockney rhyming slang) trouble; a problematic situation or difficulty

Slang
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Abstract
Composition
Compound
Uncountable

What does "Barney Rubble" mean in Cockney rhyming slang?

The structure uses the rhyming pair "Barney Rubble" (the character from The Flintstones) to stand for "trouble," following the typical Cockney pattern of replacing a word with a phrase that rhymes with it. It is used in Cockney rhyming slang (London, UK) to mean trouble, a problematic situation, or difficulty, often shortened to just "Barney." People typically say "You're looking for Barney Rubble" or "He got himself in a bit of Barney." The term originated in mid 20th century London rhyming slang, drawing on the popular cartoon character, and remains a recognizable if somewhat dated example.

Examples
He 's always getting into Barney Rubble.
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