hey diddle diddle

English

Etymology

Rhyming slang referencing the namesake nursery rhyme. Phrase first attested in Thomas Preston's Cambyses, king of Persia (1569).

Noun

hey diddle diddle (plural not attested)

  1. (UK, Australia, rhyming slang) The middle.
    • 2018 November 22, Thomas Faunce, Split By Sun: The Tragic History Of The Sustainocene, World Scientific Publishing, →ISBN, page 315:
      "That's my cousin Reggie," said Wallaby Jack. "He's only a little feller, but he can play footy. Took a screamer first quarter, then left foot banana through the hey diddle diddle. Six big ones."
    • 2023 November 1, Ben Smith, “Watch: Long drive bloopers from BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am”, in GolfMagic‎[1], retrieved 13 May 2025:
      The celebrity long-drive event took place on the ninth hole of the West Course, which was won by Spiderman[sic] actor Tom Holland. Holland looked like he meant business when he ripped his drive 310 yards straight down the hey diddle diddle.
    • 2025 May 4, Matt Turner, “Wigan Warriors vs Warrington Wolves, Magic Weekend live”, in Warrington Guardian‎[2], retrieved 13 May 2025:
      Now then, can Ratchford add the extras to trim Wigan's lead to just two points? Here he comes...straight through the hey diddle diddle!
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