Would you Adam and Eve it? The future of cockney rhyming slang is in deep Barney Rubble.

Cockney rhyming slang is brown bread thanks to ‘reem’ TOWIE
Cockney rhyming slang is on its way out thanks to text language and shows like TOWIE

Itâs no bubble, the historic slang, thought to have originated in 19th-century London, is said to be on its way out as modern phrases take over.

It means we are more likely to use terms such as text message favourite âOMGâ and âreemâ â popularised in TV show The Only Was Is Essex â according to the Museum of London.

âThe origins of cockney slang reflects the diverse, immigrant community of Londonâs east end in the 19th century, so perhaps itâs no surprise that other forms of slang are taking over as the cultural influences on the city change,â said Alex Werner, of the museum.

Rhyming slang has often incorporated new terms and celebrities â such as âPete Tongâ to mean wrong.

But two in five respondents were convinced it was dying out.

Despite nearly two thirds believing it was crucial to the capitalâs identity, fewer people are using the most popular phrases. More than three quarters knew that âapple and pearsâ meant stairs, yet fewer than one in ten used it within the last six months.

The same amount uttered the phrase âcream crackeredâ even though almost all knew it meant knackered, while slightly more used the most popular couplet, âporky piesâ â meaning lies.

Several phrases were not widely known. A third knew âbunsen burnerâ referred to âearnerâ (a nice little…), with almost as many thinking it referred to a fireman. Fewer than half knew âdonkeyâs earsâ meant years â almost a third thought it was slang for tears.