five-to-two

[sapotn1967]

What follows is the abstract from "The loved one" by Evelyn Waugh. The action takes place in Hollywood in the late forties of the last century. One of the characters, an Englishman, discusses the treatment of the English in American Hollywood: "We limeys have a peculiar position to keep up, you know, Barlow. They may laugh at us a bit—the way we talk and the way we dress; our monocles—they may think us cliquey and stand-offish, but, by God, they respect us. Your five-to-two is a judge of quality. He knows what he's buying and it's only the finest type of Englishman that you meet out here."

Could you explain the meaning of "five-to-two" in this context?

 

[cidertree]

It's rhyming slang for Jew. The major Hollywood studios of the time were founded and run by Jews.

Added: In case there's any doubt, it's a highly disparaging remark.

 

[PaulQ]

See: Five To Two is Cockney Rhyming Slang for Jew!