A Ruby Murray – or a Ruby, for short – is a well-known Cockney phrase for a curry. But why do we use this personal name to refer to the dish? And where do such phrases with names generally come from? Ruby Murray is not the only phrase in English that contains a name.

Murray's popularity led to her name being adopted in Cockney rhyming slang as a rhyme for "curry". The phrase "have a ruby" appears in various episodes of the BBC TV comedy series Only Fools and Horses.

Ruby Murray was the name of a lovely Irish singer – it's also rhyming slang for 'curry'. This particularly scarlet nod to its namesake blends deep, earthy beetroot with tender red lentils, chilli heat and warming spices, cooled with a good dollop of yogurt.

"going out for a ruby"......a ruby is cockney rhyming slang for a curry after the 50s singer Ruby Murray. Neville. 2 years ago. Yeah - definitely in British slang, and particularly London, it means an (Indian) curry.