verb
General Slang
Pen And Ink
/ˌpen ən ˈɪŋk/ · verb · slang
Cockney rhyming slang for stink — something that pen and inks smells bad.
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Definitions
1
Figuratively, for a situation or deal that 'stinks' — feels dodgy.
“The whole thing pen and inks if you ask me, something's off.”
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2
Used as a noun for a bad smell itself.
“What's that pen and ink? Smells like something died in here.”
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3
To stink or smell bad. 'Pen and ink' rhymes with 'stink'.
“Open a window, this room pen and inks something rotten.”
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Pen And Ink In A Sentence
His trainers pen and ink so bad we made him leave them outside.
There's a right pen and ink coming from the bins.
That excuse pen and inks, I don't believe a word of it.
Origin & Usage
East End London rhyming slang where 'pen and ink' rhymes with 'stink'. A classic example of using everyday objects to build the rhyme, dating to the 19th century.
Variants
pen 'n' ink
People Also Ask
What does pen and ink mean in Cockney?
It means stink or smell bad. 'Pen and ink' rhymes with 'stink'.
Can pen and ink describe a dodgy situation?
Yes — like the literal 'stink', it can mean something feels off or suspicious, as in 'this deal pen and inks'.
Is pen and ink common slang now?
It's old-school Cockney and less common today, but still understood and used for comic effect among rhyming-slang fans.
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