I have recently heard it in the movie blood diamond
2007-01-04 09:48:19 · 7 answers · asked by Mr. M 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
lot's of SA and Australian slang originated in the UK - China is London cockney rhyming slang: china plate = mate.
Was the character in the movie a brit?
2007-01-04 09:54:33 · answer #1 · answered by jomarie357 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is a London or Cockney term, NOT South African. Rhyming slang China Plate = Mate.
2007-01-04 09:51:56 · answer #2 · answered by ED SNOW 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's cockney rhyming slang mate!. China plate = mate = good friend. Presumably some of my relatives emigrated!
2007-01-04 09:56:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I always thought that was cockney rhyming slang -china plate-mate?
2007-01-04 09:51:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I thought it was Cockney rhyming slang - me old china?....China plate - mate
2007-01-04 09:51:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is actually two terms used together.
"hoesit, hoezit, howzit " is obvious - just 'How is it' or 'how’s it going'
"China" is colonial English rhyming slang China plate (mate)
2007-01-04 09:57:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Total guess -- china is something precious and fragile
2007-01-04 09:52:14 · answer #7 · answered by drshorty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋