Bob’s Your Uncle (Meaning & Origin!)

“Bob’s your uncle” is a common British expression which means something like “and that’s done”, or “and there it is”. It is an everyday expression which is used as a kind of marker of satisfaction with a job or something that you’ve done. The result is reached, we’ve done what we wanted to do—it’s over.

For non-English speakers, this phrase can be somewhat difficult to explain.

The simplest way to help yourself understand what people mean when they use this term is to forget about the actual words.

It’s simply like saying “job done”, or something similar.

Let’s find out more.

What does “Bob’s your uncle” mean?

“Bob’s your uncle” can have a few slightly different meanings depending on the context in which it is used.

Perhaps the most common meaning, though, is that it signifies when something is done, completed—“and there you have it”, for example.

To say “Bob’s your uncle” usually comes at the end of explaining the steps involved until something is finished.

“All that’s left to do is carry the bricks through, then carry the sandbags, lock the door and Bob’s your uncle,” for example. In this example,

“Bob’s your uncle” just means that will be the last thing and the job is done.

It can also be a kind of expression of self-satisfaction, again typically coming at the end of a job or when something is fixed or completed. “I fixed your fridge—just had to change the motor and Bob’s your uncle,” for example.

It’s done and it was simply done, and there’s a certain amount of satisfaction in a job well done.

On the other hand, it might be used before something is complete just to express the simplicity involved in doing it.

If you are giving directions to someone on how to do something or even how to get somewhere, you might end it by saying “Bob’s your uncle”. “Take the next right, follow the signs to the hospital, turn left at the traffic lights and Bob’s your uncle,” for example.

It signifies that something is simple and easy and won’t take long.

There are many similar phrases you may be more familiar with which can help you understand the meaning of the term. “Piece of cake,” for example.

This is a common English expression which just means something was very easy—past tense is very important in this case. “Job’s a good’un” would be another example.

Where does this term come from, then?

Where does “Bob’s your uncle” come from?

The truth is we are not completely certain where the phrase originated. However, there is one very common theory that holds a lot of water.

The Conservative Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, who served for a total of 13 years up to 1902, appointed his nephew Arthur as the Secretary for Ireland in 1887, shortly after he was first elected.

This was what’s known as an act of nepotism, in which someone is advanced in their career because of who they know or are related to, rather than because of any inherent talents.

This was a widely unpopular move, and most people were not interested in any qualifications Arthur may have had.

Thus, “Bob’s your uncle” meant something was very easy and it was only done because of factors beyond your control.

However, one issue with the theory is that our earliest written example of the expression comes from a revue of a Dundee theatre from 1924.

If the move had been so unpopular as to coin this phrase, it likely would exist in print before this year.

However, this doesn’t absolutely disprove the theory, and unfortunately, we really don’t have any other coherent theories about the expression’s origin.

Where is “Bob’s your uncle” used?

As we’ve seen, “Bob’s your uncle” seems to have originated in England.

Today, it is by far most commonly used there still, but also across Britain in Wales and Scotland, too.

Beyond that, the phrase is also widely used in many Commonwealth countries such as Canada, Australia, South Africa and parts of Africa like Ghana, Nigeria and Botswana.

However, its usage in any other country than Britain is more less dwarfed by British usage.

You’re much less likely to hear it outside of Britain than inside.

Even in Britain, you are perhaps more likely to hear it in the south of England than anywhere else.

What should you respond to “Bob’s your uncle”?

How to respond to this when someone says it can be a bit confusing.

Again, though, for the most part, all it means is that something is done and was simple, or will be simply and done soon.

So, in most cases, you don’t really need to say anything at all when someone says this to you.

You don’t need to respond to that particular part of what they said, anyway.

All they are likely saying is that something should be simple to do, and you don’t need to worry about it.

Just saying “sounds good” or even a simple affirmative answer should be more than enough response for most people.

It can be a bit of an odd phrase to hear, especially for someone who is learning English.

But the meaning is actually very simple, if it has a somewhat confusing origin.

All you really need to know about the expression is that it signifies something being satisfactorily done, or that something you can do is very simple and there are not many steps involved.

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