In 1887, British Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil appointed his nephew Arthur James Balfour as Minister for Ireland. The phrase ‘Bob’s your uncle’ was coined when Arthur referred to the Prime Minister as ‘Uncle Bob’. Apparently, it’s very simple to become a minister when Bob’s your uncle!
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Why do we say Bob’s your uncle and Fanny’s your aunt?
The long version Bob’s your uncle and Fanny’s your aunt meaning “and there you are” or “it’s that easy!” or “(after that) it’s done!” or “(after that,) you have achieved what you wanted to achieve”. One variant is Bob’s your uncle and Fanny’s your granny. Other variants, of both versions, spell your as yer.
What does the British slang Bob’s your uncle mean?
Definition of and Bob’s your uncle
British, informal. —used to say that something is easy to do or use Just complete the form, pay the fee, and Bob’s your uncle!
What is the American equivalent of Bob’s your uncle?
and there you go
Origin of Bob’s Your Uncle
This expression is more common in British English than in American English. An American equivalent would be and there you go.
What is the origin of how’s your father?
Etymology. how + is + your + father. A popular catchphrase of the 1910s popularised by music-hall entertainer Harry Tate, who used it for comic effect to change the subject away from one about which his character was ignorant (hence sense 1) or a taboo subject (hence sense 2).
Why do we say my giddy aunt?
Giddy Aunts are the keepers of family stories and the tellers of wonderful tales, but what does the phrase “Oh My Giddy Aunt” mean? “Oh My Giddy Aunt!” was a popular English saying early last century, often used to indicate surprise in the days before less genteel expletives became more freely used.
Where does the phrase can’t cut the mustard come from?
WHEN MUSTARD was one of the main crops in East Anglia, it was cut by hand with scythes, in the same way as corn. The crop could grow up to six feet high and this was very arduous work, requiring extremely sharp tools. When blunt they “would not cut the mustard”.
What does How’s your father mean in slang?
(A bit of) How’s Your Father; Idiom, saying, turn of phrase. Meaning: Sexy time, sexual intercourse or other sexual activity. Normally used in a phrase in Britain similar to: “Fancy a bit of how’s your father?”
Where did the saying cut the mustard come from?
Etymology. Probably from likening the pungency of the spice mustard as a superlative or as something that adds zest to a situation. Possibly derived from the idiom ‘to pass muster’, an expression for assembling military troops for inspection.
What does it mean when Brits say ta?
thank you
Ta means ‘thank you‘.
What does the saying 10 to the dozen mean?
very quickly
If you are talking nineteen/ten to the dozen, you are talking very quickly and without stopping.
What does Bob’s your uncle mean in Australia?
It’s an exclamation when you’re sort of presenting someone with something or you’re trying to say that something is very easy and quick to sort of do, right. Bob’s your uncle and it’s done.
What does How’s your mother mean?
If you speak to someone whose mother has been ill and say “How is your mother?” they will think that you are someone who is showing care and concern. If you speak to an old (long-standing) friend whose mother you know well and say “How is your mother?” they would find that a perfectly normal thing to say. S.
Who invented the word copacetic?
Bill "Bojangles” Robinson
It was used by the tap dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson (1877-1949) in radio broadcasts during the 1930’s; Robinson claimed to have coined the word in an exchange of letters with the lexicographer Charles Earle Funke (see Funke’s article “Bill Robinson’s ‘Copesetic’,” American Speech, vol.
Why do they say scott free?
IN MACBETH you may recall the line “We have Scotched the snake, not killed it” – which means that the snake is scratched, or injured. So the original expression “Scotch Free” meant uninjured or even unmarked; it very quickly became Scot-Free because of colloquial speech.
Why do we say gone for a Burton?
It was widely used as a slang term by the RAF in World War Two when the RAF took heavy casualties during the war to defeat Nazi Germany. Back then it was considered bad luck to say that someone had died or was missing in action, so the phrase ‘gone for a Burton’ was used instead.
What does Oh my sainted aunt mean?
Expression of surprise, contempt
My-sainted-aunt definition
Filters. (UK) Expression of surprise, contempt, outrage, disgust, boredom, frustration.
What is the origin of the phrase at sixes and sevens?
The term at sixes and sevens goes back at least to the 1300s. Originally, the phrase was rendered on six and seven, and referred to a dice game where throwing on a six or seven meant risking one’s entire fortune. Until the 1600s, on sixes and sevens meant to take a careless risk.
Where did the term living the life of Riley come from?
life of Riley. A life of luxury: “Sheila found herself living the life of Riley after she won the lottery.” The expression comes from a popular song of the 1880s, “Is That Mr. Reilly?”, in which the title character describes what he would do if he suddenly became wealthy.
Where does the term brass tacks come from?
Etymology. Unknown. Earliest attestation in 1863 US, specifically Texas. One theory is that it comes from the brass tacks in the counter of a hardware store or draper’s shop used to measure cloth in precise units (rather than holding one end to the nose and stretching out the arm to approximately one yard).
What is a mucker slang?
noun. Slang. a vulgar, illbred person. Informal. a person who often does or says the wrong thing; bungler.