Text: Up the apples and pears

Context: My informant explained that growing up, her grandmother used to refer to the stairs as the “apples and pears.” For example, her grandmother might have said “Alright, I’m going to go up the apples and pears.” My informant explained that her grandmother learned this from her mother who was born in London. She also clarified that her grandmother usually only used this phrasing around their family as most people, especially in the United States, would not understand what she meant. 

Analysis: Cockney is a rhyming slang primarily used by individuals from the East End of London who have historically made up the working class of the city. “Apples and pears” is one of many terms in this slang where Cockney individuals replace a word with a phrase that rhymes with it. This slang has historically been used amongst Cockney individuals to create a sense of community and social solidarity. This slang has also likely been used as resistance towards authority as non-Cockney individuals have a difficult time understanding what they are saying when the slang is being used.