Drum and Bass Cockney Rhyming Slang
Drum and Bass is Cockney rhyming slang for place
The word “drum” to describe a home came about long before the style of music drum and bass. It’s a great example of “reattachment” – where a slang expression (not necessarily rhyming slang) gets reattached to a more modern phrase.
The word drum was originally used to describe a room or prison cell or even a road. It then became confined to only mean the home. Finally this was rhymed with Drum and Bass giving its modern interpretation.
Most people who’ve suggested this say it means “place”, linking it sometimes “base” – as in a place where you are based.
Contributor james kennet suggests the rhyme is actually for “space”.
Submitted by the following 8 peeps:
- Danny,
- richard baldwin,
- ken,
- Kari,
- Anon,
- Lorraine,
- theo,
- pugsly1,
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