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posted
I understand most phrases, but where in the hell does Bob's your uncle come from?
Silly rant, but Iv'e heard it for years and never got what it meant.
 
Posts: 955 | Location: Mason, Ohio | Registered: September 16, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Not as lean, not as mean,
Still a Marine
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I've always heard it as "you got something for nothing"

Amazon messed up an order and sent you a freebie?? Well, Bob's your uncle.

You got a cush job because your Dad owns the company? Well, Bob's your uncle.




I shall respect you until you open your mouth, from that point on, you must earn it yourself.
 
Posts: 3352 | Location: Southern Maine | Registered: February 10, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Run Silent
Run Deep

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Did you Google it?

It’s a pretty straight forward answer.


_____________________________
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The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money. - Margaret Thatcher
Spread my work ethic, not my wealth
 
Posts: 6985 | Location: South East, Pa | Registered: July 04, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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No I didn't Google it .I understand the meaning, just didn't know where Bob
came into the picture.
 
Posts: 955 | Location: Mason, Ohio | Registered: September 16, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Nullus Anxietas
Picture of ensigmatic
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Search on it and ye shall find.



"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe
"If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher
 
Posts: 26009 | Location: S.E. Michigan | Registered: January 06, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
אַרְיֵה
Picture of V-Tail
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The way I heard it, a political boss named Robert ("Bob") <something-or-other> appointed his nephew to a government position.

So it was said that the only reason the nephew got the job was because "Bob's your uncle."



הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים
 
Posts: 30669 | Location: Central Florida, Orlando area | Registered: January 03, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
probably a good thing
I don't have a cut
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Wow. I did a search on DuckDuckGo on the phrase and it essentially gave that explanation on the first result. Whoda thunk it?
 
Posts: 3383 | Location: Tampa, FL | Registered: February 09, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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The reply, back in the old country used to be: 'Well, Bob's your uncle, and Charley's your aunt!'

'Charley' was a character in a farce from 1925 on stage and later filmed in 1941 and was 'adopted' as a humorous retort.


...
 
Posts: 2763 | Location: Lake Country, Minnesota | Registered: September 06, 2019Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Meaning and origin of the phrase Bob's your uncle.




God bless America.
 
Posts: 13503 | Location: The mountainous part of Hokie Nation! | Registered: July 15, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Peace through
superior firepower
Picture of parabellum
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quote:
Originally posted by Paten:
Wow. I did a search on DuckDuckGo on the phrase and it essentially gave that explanation on the first result. Whoda thunk it?
Let's be nice, please
 
Posts: 107596 | Registered: January 20, 2000Reply With QuoteReport This Post
אַרְיֵה
Picture of V-Tail
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quote:
Originally posted by Pyker:

The reply, back in the old country used to be: 'Well, Bob's your uncle, and Charley's your aunt!'

'Charley' was a character in a farce from 1925 on stage and later filmed in 1941 and was 'adopted' as a humorous retort.
I always heard that the second part was "and Fanny's your aunt." I guess that there are many variations.



הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים
 
Posts: 30669 | Location: Central Florida, Orlando area | Registered: January 03, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Dances With
Tornados
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Pardon my slight thread drift, or more than slight, but that reminds me.

I used to work with a guy who was constantly saying "And if my Aunt had balls, she'd be my Uncle". He would state that's how he dealt with us being constantly asked how/why we couldn't/wouldn't/didn't do something/anticipate things for the clients and other employees that wanted the impossible done immediately.

Thanks for letting me interrupt, but I still think that's funny.
.
 
Posts: 11846 | Registered: October 26, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
His Royal Hiney
Picture of Rey HRH
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quote:
Originally posted by Patriot:
Did you Google it?

It’s a pretty straight forward answer.


I have never come across that phrase before. But, now, thanks to google and you, I know.



"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.
 
Posts: 19663 | Location: The Free State of Arizona - Ditat Deus | Registered: March 24, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
His Royal Hiney
Picture of Rey HRH
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quote:
Originally posted by OKCGene:
Pardon my slight thread drift, or more than slight, but that reminds me.

I used to work with a guy who was constantly saying "And if my Aunt had balls, she'd be my Uncle". He would state that's how he dealt with us being constantly asked how/why we couldn't/wouldn't/didn't do something/anticipate things for the clients and other employees that wanted the impossible done immediately.

Thanks for letting me interrupt, but I still think that's funny.
.


Here's what I think is a better turn of that phrase as I've heard it.

"Balls," said the queen, "if I had them, I'd be king!"



"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.
 
Posts: 19663 | Location: The Free State of Arizona - Ditat Deus | Registered: March 24, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail:
quote:
Originally posted by Pyker:

The reply, back in the old country used to be: 'Well, Bob's your uncle, and Charley's your aunt!'

'Charley' was a character in a farce from 1925 on stage and later filmed in 1941 and was 'adopted' as a humorous retort.
I always heard that the second part was "and Fanny's your aunt." I guess that there are many variations.


True story
 
Posts: 2763 | Location: Lake Country, Minnesota | Registered: September 06, 2019Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Three Generations
of Service
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quote:
Originally posted by Rey HRH:


Here's what I think is a better turn of that phrase as I've heard it.

"Balls," said the queen, "if I had them, I'd be king!"


The version I heard was "...if I had two, I'd be king" which I vocalize as "...if I had to (two) I'd be king!" Some folks notice the difference, some don't.




Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.
 
Posts: 15231 | Location: Downeast Maine | Registered: March 10, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Not really from Vienna
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“If bobele had beytse she’d be zeyde” is how I’ve heard it.

(If grannie had balls she’d be grandpa)
 
Posts: 26905 | Location: Jerkwater, Texas | Registered: January 30, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
I Deal In Lead
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People in the UK tend to talk funny.

AS George Bernard Shaw once said, two peoples separated by a common language.
 
Posts: 10626 | Location: Gilbert Arizona | Registered: March 21, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I still haven't googled it,but V-Tails answer seems to make
the most sense. One of life's little mysteries.
 
Posts: 955 | Location: Mason, Ohio | Registered: September 16, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Alea iacta est
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I’ve used that term from time to time. I picked it up from a British friend when I was 20 or so.

My understanding and use of it, replaces “there ya go” or “there you have it”.



quote:
Originally posted by parabellum: You must have your pants custom tailored to fit your massive balls.
The “lol” thread
 
Posts: 4025 | Location: Staring down at you with disdain, from the spooky mountaintop castle.  | Registered: November 20, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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