Common but strange British English Expressions: BOB'S YOUR UNCLE

Here is a rather strange everyday idiom: Bob's your uncle. We explain its origin and give examples of how it's used. It really is common and you'll hear it frequently so next time you're speaking to an English speaking person or visiting Britain do use it.

Intermediate and advanced English lessons on our youtube channel. Brought to you by LetThemTalk language school in Paris.

TRANSCRIPT
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Great Britain 1887 the Prime Minister is Robert "Bob" Cecil. There is a vacancy in his government for a Chief Secretary for Ireland, After some consideration the Prime Minister announces his choice "The new Chief secretary for Ireland is Alfred Balfour. What, who? People exclaimed. This is a very important post and yet he's chosen somebody unknown for the post. Wait a minute isn't Alfred Balfour The Prime Minister's nephew? Ah now I understand, You are a nobody but Bob's your uncle and you've got the job.

Today, Bob's you uncle is a very common and useful British English expression. It means something like "it's easy", "there you are", the French might translate it as "et voila".

Let's look at some example.

You enter the code you click on the button and "Bob's your uncle" it works
The cake is easy to make you mix some flour, eggs, sugar and butter you put it in the oven and in half an hour Bob's your uncle it's done.
It's not complicated you just add hot water and bob's your uncle it's ready.

[landscape]

looks like he's sitting in a high maintenance prison

[shadman]

today I was trying to solve a problem... and a friend trying to help me, gave me his opinion and used this expression. I replied "No, he isn't"

[morefiction]

I do love that bit of nepotism being mocked all these years later even if people have forgotten what it means.

[dawnnewell]

I’ve always wanted to know the origin of this strange British expression. Thank you! 👍🏻

[utah]

In my part of the USA, a phrase with this meaning that comes to mind is "It's easy as pie!" Not sure where that came from, as I've made pies myself and never considered it particularly easy.

[acacia]

It's such an awesome expression that I even have to use it over on this side of the pond. It's an expression that translates geography!

[florilaan]

I will proceed to use this at every possible occasion

[pdruart]

It's just as common as having an uncle named Bob it's just that simple it's just that obvious everybody has an uncle named Bob

[devashikajayamanna]

I watched so many videos related to this topic. But this is the only one I got explained short and sweet way. Thank you. This was an interesting lesson. ❤

[brandon]

I love the way you explain that... very Bob's your uncle (Easily)

[estelarosariofagaraimundo]

very interesting, I like to hear the origin of the idioms! Thanks for this useful information.

[ybudesureh]

i listened to you, I understood every word and Bob's your Uncle

[murraybarnes]

only works in london

other places will be like wtf r u on mate

[elmo]

Growing up in London, it was often said “bobs your uncle, Fanny’s your buggers a dirty word” although I never really new the full meaning of this other than how your video described the first part. Quite often, if some said ‘bobs your uncle’ others would state the rest of the term as I have described it. Funny how phrases like this come about! This seems to have derived from nepotism

[janegilbert]

I'm going to start using this here in the States immediately and confuse everyone.

[rasoto]

We go in through the Sewers & that puts us in the Courtyard from there we Scale up the Walls, Run across the Rooftops & then just Drop down into the Exhibit Hall,
BOB'S YOUR UNCLE!!
(Flynn's Voice/Uncharted 2 Among Thieves)

[pdruart]

So apparently everybody in England has an uncle named Bob

[petiobg]

Hello, Thank you for the short lesson in history and explaining the source of this idiom. A minor correction - Arthur Balfour rather than Alfred was the first name of the nephew, who also later became prime minister.

[SapphireDragonfly]

Thanks for the clear and low key explanation. :). My grandpa used to say it often. We are in America, but I think the phrase tickled him :)

[ValEGwangi]

Thanks for the explanation. I started researching this great phase after watching Scrooge's cleaning lady utter it in the Alastair Sim version.