Lambeth walk
Lambeth walk
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "Lambeth Walk" is /ˈlæmbəθ wɔːk/.
Lam /læm/: The syllable starts with a voiced bilabial nasal consonant /m/, followed by the short open-mid front unrounded vowel /æ/.
beth /bəθ/: The second syllable begins with a voiced bilabial stop consonant /b/, followed by the schwa vowel /ə/, and ends with the voiceless dental fricative consonant /θ/.
walk /wɔːk/: The third syllable starts with a voiced labial-velar approximant /w/, followed by the long open-mid back rounded vowel /ɔː/, and ends with a voiceless velar stop consonant /k/.
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: Lambeth Walk
Plural Noun: Lambeth Walks
Present Participle: Lambeth Walking
Past Tense/Past Participle: Lambeth Walked
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A popular social dance and song, originating in London in the 1930s, characterized by a jaunty, strutting style. It is often performed in a group with specific, repeated movements and a high-stepping gait.
Synonyms: The Lambeth Walk (used to refer to the specific dance), cockney strut
Antonyms: (None)
A style of walking or movement that mimics the distinctive strut of the Lambeth Walk dance. This can be used to describe a person's gait or a particular way of moving.
Synonyms: swagger, saunter, strut
Antonyms: scurry, tiptoe, creep
(Historical, UK) A specific street or district in the Lambeth area of London, historically associated with working-class culture.
Synonyms: (None)
Antonyms: (None)
Verb
To perform the Lambeth Walk dance.
Synonyms: strut, boogie (colloquial, general sense of dancing)
Antonyms: stand still, remain motionless
To walk or move with a swaggering, high-stepping gait reminiscent of the Lambeth Walk.
Synonyms: strut, prance, sashay
Antonyms: shuffle, trudge, plod
Examples of Use
Books and Literature
The term appears in various historical and cultural studies of 20th-century Britain. For example, the Mass Observation study Britain (1939) devoted an entire chapter to the social phenomenon of the "Lambeth Walk" craze.
The song itself, from the musical Me and My Girl (1937), has been published as sheet music for piano, vocals, and other instruments.
Newspapers and Online Publications
Historical newspaper articles from the late 1930s often covered the dance's popularity, with one Times headline from October 1938 famously stating: "While dictators rage and statesmen talk, all Europe dances – to The Lambeth Walk."
In a modern context, the name "Lambeth Walk" is used to refer to the specific London street. For instance, a recent article might mention the "Lambeth Walk Group Practice," a local medical center.
Entertainment and Platforms
Film: A famous British propaganda film from 1942, Schichlegruber Doing the Lambeth Walk, used manipulated footage of Adolf Hitler and goose-stepping Nazis to make it appear as though they were performing the dance, a move that reportedly enraged Hitler. The dance also featured in a 1939 film adaptation of the stage show, also titled The Lambeth Walk.
Music: The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including jazz musicians like Duke Ellington, and in a French version by the singer Dalida in the 1970s.
Television and Stage: The musical Me and My Girl has been revived several times, most notably in 1986, re-introducing the song and dance to new generations of theatergoers.
General Public Discourse
The term is still used colloquially, particularly in the UK, to describe a jaunty, swaggering walk, especially when someone is in a good mood. One might say, "He was doing the Lambeth Walk all the way home after getting the job."
As a cultural touchstone, it is often referenced in discussions about British social history and the working-class culture of London's East End and surrounding areas in the pre- and post-war era.
The dance is sometimes taught or performed at vintage-themed events and social dance clubs, keeping the steps and song alive in a modern context. For instance, there are articles and websites dedicated to teaching and preserving historical social dances, including the "Lambeth Walk."
10 Famous Quotes Using Lambeth Walk
"While dictators rage and statesmen talk, all Europe dances to 'The Lambeth Walk.'" (The Times, October 1938)
"Any time you're Lambeth Walk way, any evening any day, you'll find us all doin' the Lambeth Walk." (Noel Gay, Me and My Girl song lyrics)
"The Lambeth Walk is just an exaggerated idea of how the cockney struts." (Lupino Lane)
"I used to crawl from the bedroom to the computer and just sit and write... but went into the theatre every night and was cheerful and sang the Lambeth Walk." (Emma Thompson)
"The Lambeth Walk... Jewish mischief and animalistic hopping." (A member of the Nazi Party, 1939)
"The Lambeth Walk'll beat creation." (Alec Hurley, lyrics to an earlier 1899 song)
"He did the Lambeth Walk around the perimeter of the ring, waving to the crowd." (Original quote)
"He walked off the stage with a jaunty Lambeth Walk after his stellar performance." (Original quote)
"A joyful Lambeth Walk broke out in the street, an impromptu celebration of the city's spirit." (Original quote)
"The whole team was doing a sort of Lambeth Walk into the locker room after the big win." (Original quote)
Etymology
The name "Lambeth Walk" is a combination of two words: "Lambeth" and "walk."
Lambeth: This is the name of a district in London, England. The area has been known as Lambeth for centuries, and its name is believed to come from the Old English words "lam" (meaning loam or muddy) and "hythe" (meaning a landing place on a river). This is because the area was historically a marshy landing spot on the south bank of the River Thames.
Walk: This simply refers to the act of walking.
The term's origin is tied directly to a specific street in the Lambeth district called Lambeth Walk. The first known use of "Lambeth Walk" as a cultural phenomenon was in the late 1930s. It was the title of a popular song and dance from the British musical Me and My Girl, which premiered in 1937. The dance was intended to be a jaunty, high-stepping strut that mimicked how working-class people were perceived to walk in that part of London.
So, in simple terms, the "Lambeth Walk" is a dance and song named after a street in London, with the "walk" part describing the distinctive, strutting style of the dance. Its fame and widespread use came from the popularity of the musical, which turned a local street name into an international symbol of British cheerfulness and working-class culture.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Lambeth Walk
To do the Lambeth Walk: To perform the dance or to walk with a cheerful, swaggering gait.
The Lambeth Walk spirit: Refers to a cheerful, resilient attitude, often associated with working-class Londoners.
A Lambeth Walk to victory: Used to describe an easy or swaggering path to success.
Putting on the Lambeth Walk: To adopt a confident or cocky demeanor.
Doing a Lambeth Walk around a problem: To easily and confidently handle a difficult situation.
In a Lambeth Walk and a canter: An idiom (supplementing with synonyms) for moving with great ease and speed.
He's got a whole Lambeth Walk in his step: Describes someone who is very happy and energized.
The Lambeth Walk of life: A phrase (supplementing with synonyms) for a swaggering or carefree way of living.
Walking the Lambeth Walk: To follow a certain path with confidence and without hesitation.
A cocky Lambeth Walk: Describes a particularly arrogant strut.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of Lambeth walk from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
