What does Bob's your uncle mean in British slang?

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!
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on merriam-webster.com


What does Bob's your uncle Fanny's your aunt mean?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


Where does the saying Bob's your uncle originate from?

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!
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ecenglish.com


What does Uncle mean in British slang?

uncle in British English

1. a brother of one's father or mother. 2. the husband of one's aunt.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on collinsdictionary.com


What does Bob mean in British slang?

plural bob. Definition of bob (Entry 6 of 7) British slang. : shilling.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on merriam-webster.com


Top 10 British Slang Terms YOU Should Be Using



What does happy as Larry meaning?

happy as Larry in British English

or as happy as Larry. British, Australian and New Zealand informal. extremely happy.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on collinsdictionary.com


What is the American equivalent of Bob's your uncle?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on writingexplained.org


What does Bob mean in Ireland?

Bob: slang for money. See also quid and sterling. Bonnet: car hood. Boot: car trunk. Bord Fáilte (pronounced bord fal-cha): The Irish Tourist Board (Gaelic, "Board of Welcome")
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on web.cn.edu


What is Fanny mean in English?

Definition of fanny

1 British slang, offensive : vulva. 2 : buttocks.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on merriam-webster.com


What does the saying cut the mustard mean?

To cut the mustard is “to reach or surpass the desired standard or performance” or more generally “to succeed, to have the ability to do something.” For instance, Beyoncé really cut the mustard in her new song.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on dictionary.com


What are common British phrases?

11 Bloody Brilliant British English Phrases
  • “Fancy a cuppa?” meaning: “Would you like a cup of tea?” ...
  • “Alright?” meaning: “Hey, how are you?” ...
  • “I'm knackered!” meaning: “I'm tired.” ...
  • Cheeky. meaning: playful; mischievous. ...
  • “I'm chuffed to bits!” meaning “I'm very pleased.” ...
  • Bloody. meaning: very. ...
  • To bodge something. ...
  • “I'm pissed.”
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on babbel.com


Where did cut the mustard come from?

The first recorded use of the phrase is by O Henry in 1907, in a story called The Heart of the West: “I looked around and found a proposition that exactly cut the mustard”. The modern sense of the idiom is “to succeed; to have the ability to do something; to come up to expectations”.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on worldwidewords.org


Why is Fanny's your aunt?

A phrase with the same meaning is 'Fanny's your aunt'. When used together it means complete or the whole lot. If Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt you've got a full set of relatives and you are complete.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on theslangpodcast.com


Why do we say oh 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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ohmygiddyaunt.com.au


What does the saying giddy aunt mean?

Interjection. my giddy aunt. (Britain, Ireland) An exclamation of astonishment, confusion, despair, etc.: my sainted aunt, my sainted uncle.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wiktionary.org


Why do Irish say wee?

Wee – a word used to describe everything. Technically, wee is supposed to refer to small things, but in Ireland, that is not always the case. Instead, the word 'wee' is used to describe absolutely everything.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on irelandbeforeyoudie.com


What do the Irish call a girl?

“Cailín” means “girl” in the Irish language. A lot of Irish people still use this word even when speaking in English. The plural, “Cailíní,” is also commonly used, for example, “I'm meeting up with the cailíní later on.”
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on tandem.net


What do Irish call their friends?

Mucker. Mate, pal, friend.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on blog.intostudy.com


What does Cor mean in British slang?

cor. / (kɔː) / interjection. British slang an exclamation of surprise, amazement, or admiration.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on dictionary.com


Why do you say uncle to surrender?

"Uncle" may derive from the Irish anacol, meaning mercy or quarter, but there is no strong evidence to support this conjecture. Another suggested origin is from the English phrase “time out”, a plea to cease hostilities. The abbreviated usage "T.O." was mistaken for the Spanish “tío”, which means "uncle".
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


What does How's your father mean?

how's your father (uncountable) (slang, Britain) A whatsit; a thing which the speaker is unable or unwilling to specify more precisely. synonym ▲ Synonyms: see Thesaurus:thingy. (slang, Britain, euphemistic) Sexual intercourse. quotations ▼synonym ▲ Synonyms: see Thesaurus:sexual intercourse.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wiktionary.org


What is a sand boy?

1 : a peddler of sand at a seashore resort —used chiefly in the phrase happy as a sandboy. 2 : any of various hopping insects (as a sand flea) found on sandy beaches.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on merriam-webster.com


What does living the life of Riley mean?

Definition of life of Riley

: a carefree comfortable way of living.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on merriam-webster.com


What is as happy as a clam?

US, informal. : very happy She spent the afternoon reading and was (as) happy as a clam.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on merriam-webster.com
Next question
Can quirks be real?