What it means
A butcher's means a look, usually in have a butcher's. It's classic British cheek, the kind of thing you say when you want someone to check something out, spot the state of something, or cast an eye over a bargain. It comes from Cockney rhyming slang, so it's got that old London sparkle still hanging off it.
Usage examples
"Oi, have a butcher’s at this dodgy kebab I found on the Tube platform. If it moves, I’m off, bruv."
"Give us a butcher's at your phone, I want to see the photo of the dog in the tiny hat everyone keeps banging on about."
"Have a butcher’s at the state of this parking job, mate. He’s left the car looking like it gave up halfway through."
"Oi, come here and have a butcher’s. They’ve knocked these trainers down to twenty quid."
"Have a butcher's at this text from Dan. Bloke's written a breakup speech like he's accepting an Oscar."
Where it comes from
This is proper Cockney rhyming slang. Butcher's hook rhymes with look, so have a butcher's hook meant have a look. Over time it got clipped to just butcher's, which is exactly the sort of lazy-brilliant move slang loves. It started in London and spread into wider British chat.
