Green’s Dictionary of Slang

butcher’s hook n.

a look, a glance; also as v., to look.

1930		(con. 1914–18) Brophy & Partridge Songs and Sl. of the British Soldier.
1935		Thieves Slang ms list from District Police Training Centre, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwicks 2: Butchers hook: Look.
1939		V. Davis Gentlemen of the Broad Arrows 97: The whole party stopped working to have a butcher’s look at her.
1944		L. Glassop We Were the Rats 234: Pat said you were taking a butcher’s hook around. See anything?
1950		P. Hoskins No Hiding Place! 190/2: Have a Butcher’s Hook. Take a look.
1960		J. Franklyn Dict. of Rhy. Sl. 45/2: butcher’s hook Look.
1968		J. Alard He Who Shoots Last 27: ‘Take butcher’s [...] See if you can spot Bricky coming’.
1979		R. Barker Fletcher’s Book of Rhy. Sl. 22: And with a sexy butchers / She murmured ‘I’m all yours’. [Ibid.] 39: We take a butcher’s hook at what lies before us.
1985		J. Clanchy Lie of Land 227: ‘Well, drop the old daks.’ [...] ‘Best have a look.’ A look, a look / A butcher’s hook.
1999		J. Cameron Brown Bread in Wengen [ebook] Rameez shot me a butcher’s on the side.
1997–2001		Online Sl. Dict. 🌐 butchers n 1. a look. Notes: derived from Cockney rhyming slang: ‘butcher’s hook’ – ‘look’. The term has been used since Cockney slang originated, but in Sussex for about two decades. (‘Let’s have a butchers.’).
2001		M. Coles Bible in Cockney 66: Oi, Jesus! Everyone’s butcher’s hooking for ya.
2002		D. Shaw ‘Dead Beard’ at www.asstr.org 🌐 She has a nice pair of mystic meg’s, so naturally I take a butcher’s hook at them.
2012		I. Rankin Standing in Another Man’s Grave (2013) 364: ‘Getting a good butcher’s?’ he asked.

In phrases

have a butcher’s (at) (v.) (also cop a butcher’s, grab a butcher’s, take a butcher’s (at))

to look at, to inspect.

1932		‘P.P.’ Rhy. Sl. 11: Have a ‘butcher’s’ at her ‘ham and eggs’.
1935		Thieves Slang ms list from District Police Training Centre, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwicks 11: Take a butcher: Have a look.
1938		J. Curtis They Drive by Night 236: There’s one of them secret clocks in that wagon and just as soon as there’s an accident they’ll take it down and have a butcher’s at it. [Ibid.] 271: When a bloke’s in on a serious charge like I am they have to come and take a butcher’s at him every so often just to see whether he’s done himself in or not.
1943		M. Harrison Reported Safe Arrival 25: You ’as a last butcher’s at the ole place.
1953		J. Franklyn Cockney 294: Rhyming slang has in it a number of confusing elements, at some of which it is necessary to take a butcher’s (butcher’s hook – ‘look’).
1959		W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act II: Have a butcher’s at the corset ads on the last page.
1962		R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 47: Let’s have a butcher’s, then.
1977		A. Ayckbourn Just Between Ourselves I i: Here. We can have a butcher’s at the business end. Just a tick. [he releases the bonnet] There she is.
1981		J. Sullivan ‘Christmas Crackers’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Have a butchers in that kitchen Del!
1985		J. Sullivan ‘It’s Only Rock and Roll’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] I mean, why don’t you take a butcher’s at yerselves. You look like something the cat dragged in.
1997		N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 97: What shall I do now? [...] Take a butcher’s at the tyres?
1997–2001		Online Sl. Dict. 🌐 butchers n 1. a look […] (‘Let’s have a butchers.’).
1999		K. Sampson Powder 457: Grab a butcher’s of your fackin singer!
2002		M. Coles More Bible in Cockney 124: Paul ’ad a good butcher’s at the Council.
2006		D. Mitchell Black Swan Green 98: Thought I might go and take a butcher’s.
2012		(con. 1980s) I. Welsh Skagboys 238: He’s got his back turned, so we can’t cop a butcher’s.
2024		J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 655: ‘Let’s have a butcher’s at your papers’.