Green’s Dictionary of Slang

mutt and jeff adj.

deaf.

a.1945		L. Payne private coll. n.p.: Deaf Mutt and Jeff.
1959		J. Gosling Ghost Squad 76: His name is Bill and he’s Mutt and Jeff (deaf).
1960		J. Franklyn Dict. of Rhy. Sl.
1965		Minneapolis Star (MN) 9 Feb. 32/1: He is a bit Mutt and Jeff on the eau de cologne.
1972		Galton & Simpson ‘Loathe Story’ Steptoe and Son [TV script] I expect you’re like me, a bit Mutt and Jeff [...] Cook and chef. (Taps his ear) Deaf.
1983		J. Sullivan ‘May the Force be with You’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] slater: Oh, he dropped it did he? Didn’t you call after him? [...] del: Well yeah, but he was a bit mutton, wasn’t he.
1991		D. Widgery Some Lives! 9: You will have to speak up, I’m a bit mutton.
1999		G. Seal Lingo 90: A few other examples: mutt and jeff is deaf, after the characters in a long-running Australian newspaper comic strip; dad and dave is shave, after Steele Rudd’s famous characters; nelly bligh is pie.
2001		K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 33: He whistles again, then shouts for this Macca one. Whoever he is, cunt’s mutton.
2002		M. Coles More Bible in Cockney 73: You’re well Mutt-and-Jeff to God’s dicky!