Today we get 2fer (two for one) or even a bogof (buy one get one free) because a Yard of Tripe – Cockney rhyming slang for Pipe, is accompanied by the similar Yard of Clay – which is a reference to the very long clay pipes smoked in past centuries – presumably the long pipe stem allowed the smoke to cool down before entering the mouth… The Yard of Tripe is more fun because it not only references the length of the pipe, but tripe is in itself a pipe – part of the stomach offal – clever Cockneys!
I may be wrong, and American advertising has moved on from the “This is the product – buy me for $x at such and such shop!” but on this side of the pond we have long since had a different, dare I say more sophisticated approach to advertising. If anything, a little American clarity would sometimes not go amiss! British ads can sometimes leave you guessing until the very end, what the heck they are selling and sometimes you are still not the wiser! However, certain catch-phrases coming from ads, have made it into popular usage eg. (Ronseal Garden Paint) “Does what it says on the tin!”(L’Oreal cosmetics) “Because you are worth it…” (Nike) “Just do it!” (Burger King) “Have it your way…” and wherever there’s a Burger King – McDonald’s must surely follow “I’m Lovin’ It” (Apple) “Think Different” The great thing about all these slogans is that they are catchy and adaptable to all sorts of situations in life and thus the catch-phrases give greater longevity to the ad and the brand.
The same thing happens with some plays or poems (from House of Cards – Francis Urquhart’s catchphrase) “You may think that but I couldn’t possibly comment!”
And then there are all those Shakespeare phrases I discussed in the “H” post…
There are no Cant Languages beginning with Y today – from the Wikipedia article…