cape of good hope, n.² — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

cape of good hope n.²

[rhy. sl.]

soap.

1905		Duke Tritton’s Letter n.p.: It was Brave and Bold, and there were plenty of Cries and Screeches, but when I rubbed the Cape of Good Hope over myself, they went.
1925		(con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 47: Cape Of Good Hope: Soap.
1931		‘English Und. Sl.’ in Variety 8 Apr. n.p.: Cape of Good Hope — Soap.
1935		Thieves Slang ms list from District Police Training Centre, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwicks 2: Cape of Good Hope: Soap.
1960		J. Franklyn Dict. of Rhy. Sl.
1969		S.T. Kendall Up the Frog.
1979		R. Barker Fletcher’s Book of Rhy. Sl. 25: He was also somewhat unclean; being too poor to purchase any Cape of Good Hope.
1981		P. Wright Cockney Dialect and Sl. 103: Cape of Good Hope [...] ‘soap’.
2002		Pete’s Aussie Sl. Home Page 🌐 Cape of Good Hope: soap.