Bob's your uncle

[torqueman2002]

I was watching Edd China do his stuff on a MB Cosworth and I heard him say: "... and Bob's your uncle!"

Interesting explanations as to the possible roots, in Wikipee. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob%27s_your_uncle

Has anyone, on the US side of the pond, run across this expression?

 

[Zrexxer]

I've heard the expression before but never knew it was chiefly British, and frankly, never was concerned enough to find out...

 

[Falcon67]

Don't hear it much anymore, but familiar with it.

 

[bwringer]

I first heard it from a guy who heard it from a guy who heard it from a British guy.

Even when spoken by an American, it somehow is still obviously British.


"Piece 'a piss" is one of my favorites (sorry, that should probably be "favourites"). I think it's more Australian.

 

[Zeke]

Nope, never heard that one out here on the West Coast.

 

[torqueman2002]

I've heard the expression before but never knew it was chiefly British, and frankly, never was concerned enough to find out...

I'm the inquisitive kind.

As a youngster, I would help out Dad in his basement-shop.

My job was to strip-down un-repairable TV chassis of the tubes & sockets, resistors, caps, transformers, switches and knobs. Now that I think about it, he was 'Green' before there was such a thing!

That was good for a while, then I started in on making my own radios: crystal, AM/FM, short-wave, ...

I've just found it rewarding exploring and learning something new. I guess that's why I was happy my company sent me to Brazil, Germany, Mexico, and England.

I'm retired almost a full year now, and I'm still learning and taking on new challenges.

For me, learning/education is a life-long endeavor.

 

[dfiler2]

It's a little like us saying "...and so on and so forth..." which really doesn't make much sense either, we just all know what's meant by it. Besides I like using, strange, little used, off the wall, and Bob's your uncle, statements.

 

[torqueman2002]

I first heard it from a guy who heard it from a guy who heard it from a British guy.

Even when spoken by an American, it somehow is still obviously British.


"Piece 'a piss" is one of my favorites (sorry, that should probably be "favourites"). I think it's more Australian.

Good one, I mite use that one.

 

[mikewoods]

I was under the impression it was a New Zealand / Australian thing.

I really like the term "takin' the piss".

 

[Stuart in MN]

I used to hear people say "Bob's your uncle" fairly regularly in my part of the country, but not for many years now. I like it, personally.

On the other hand, Edd sometimes says, "I'm a happy bunny" and that's kind of annoying.

 

[rburke65]

On this site, anthony666 used it a posting and I asked him what it meant. That's the first time I heard it.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have heard it from Brit's and Aussie's.

 

[bazzateer]

It's sometimes changed to "Bob's your Aunty's brother"

 

[Modern Jess]

I hear it a lot. But I'm friends with a lot of Brits, and I also interact with a fair number of Brits at work.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Does a hobby horse have a hickory ****?

 

[bigredcornhead]

The weird **** i read on this board lol good job hahaha...

 

[jjohnson70]

We've been using "Bob's your uncle" almost daily at work for at least 15 years - great expression...

 

[laser3kw]

I have used it only because we have a guy here named Bob

 

[gungatim]

Does a hobby horse have a hickory ****?

only if it is getting ready to ship via boat. then it's a hickory **** on a hickory dock...

 

[JasonMcElroy]

Does a hobby horse have a hickory ****?

I'm familiar with a slightly different version: "Is pig p*ssy pork?"

Jason

 

[mtwaterguy]

I used to hear "Bob's your uncle" frequently. My Dad's brother's name is Bob.

 

[Doug B]

Haven't any of you guys ever seen The Worlds Fastest Indian?

 

[jon72vega]

I really do have an Uncle Bob, so I guess Bob is my uncle.....

 

[canuckian]

use it regularly. Grew up in Newfoundland which has a strong british influence so I guess that's why I know what it means.

 

[MFolks]

How about "Everythings Tickey Boo"? How's that used?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Never heard of it!

 

[G McKay]

It is similar to the saying, "Diesel Fitter!!" which is an expression I invented a few years back. It originated from a story/joke with the punch line, "Diesel Fitter!!"

So, after hearing that joke, I have used it to exclaim, "Good Job!!" "Finally!!" Or in this case, "Bob's your uncle!!"

 

[torqueman2002]

How about "Everythings Tickey Boo"? How's that used?

I've heard Edd use that also.

 

[Stuart in MN]

It's actually tickety boo.

 

[bwringer]

It's actually tickety boo.

I've heard it that way a few times, and I've seen it in print as "tickety boo" as well.



I was once talking with a gent from London about some baffling thing his wife did. His statement regarding womenfolk in general was "It's a good job they've got verginers, or we'd frow rocks at 'em!"

 

[Lippyp]

"Bobs your uncle and Fanny's your aunt" is the longer version. Ticekty Boo I suspect is a corruption of something in Hindi from the days of the Raj, almost certainly originated with the British Indian Army.

Baz, its "Bobs your mothers brother"

 

[Daniel Dudley]

A very long time ago, they used to say, ''As quick as you can say Bob's your Uncle.''. It just got shortened to the punchline.

 

[coljar]

Yep, Dad was stationed for a time in England during WWII and would use a phrase he picked up there now and then.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I've never heard it here in Indiana (I've lived in north central, west central, south central and middle areas of the state).

But that's not going to stop me from using it next time I call on my Darlington counterpart / colleague... I've got to work that in and see what his reaction is..

And it'll be in my vernacular henceforth.. I cannot wait until my son hears that.... I can see / imagine the face he'll make.

GJ is priceless for this sort of thing..Heck, I might just drop that in my team meeting today and see what happens.... Diversity, culture and fun all in one fell swoop.

Dennis

 

[thewatusi]

I like to use this phrase when someone tediously explains something that's obvious.

"And if your Aunt had balls she'd be your Uncle"

 

[warmpancakes]

Used to work for Cosworth, Half the company was Wankers from "across the pond" learned lots of weird terms

 

[Jim B]

I was gobsmacked to read someone on the West Coast had never heard of Bob's your uncle. I've lived my whole life on the West Coast and the term is as old as dirt. In fact I'm nearly that age myself.

 

[MScott]

A very long time ago, they used to say, ''As quick as you can say Bob's your Uncle.''. It just got shortened to the punchline.

That's the way I have heard/used it. Similar to "two shakes of a dead lamb's tail."

 

[zmotorsports]

Haven't any of you guys ever seen The Worlds Fastest Indian?

One of my all time favorite shows.

I used to hear the expression much more than now days. I remember hearing it quite frequently when I was younger. I too had to inquire as to its meaning out of pure curiosity.

Mike.

 

[kbs2244]

When having trouble threading a bolt a Brit co-worker of my dad used to say "Put a little hair around it."
When a pin up was walking by he would say "She would made a dead man ***."
(Mick Jaeger used that in one of his songs.)
There was a whole series of jokes about hair in your teeth.
(Kind of out of date with today’s personal fashion.)
And then there was the use of the word "******."