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Trouble and strife
01
(Cockney rhyming slang) wife; a man's spouse
Slang
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Human
Composition
complex compound
Countable
Plural form
trouble and strifes
What does "trouble and strife" mean in Cockney rhyming slang?
The structure uses the rhyming pair "trouble and strife" to stand for "wife," following the typical Cockney pattern of replacing a word with a phrase that rhymes with it, often with humorous or ironic intent. It is used in Cockney rhyming slang (London, UK) to mean a man's spouse or wife. People typically say "I'm going home to the trouble and strife" or "My trouble and strife is out shopping." The term originated in early to mid 20th century London East End rhyming slang culture, and remains a classic, widely recognized example, often cited as one of the most famous Cockney rhymes.
Examples
The trouble and strife is calling me home.



























