What's In A Word?

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All in the Family: Uncle Bob

The British phrase "And Bob's your uncle" means all will be well or and everything will be all right. The origin is unknown.

Many believe the phrase comes from the appointment of A.J. Balfour to the post of secretary of Ireland by his uncle, the Prime Minister Robert, Lord Salisbury in 1887. The dates are right for this to be true (the phrase originated in the 1890s), but there is no other evidence to link the phrase to this action.

Eric Partridge suggests it may be a variation on the slang phrase "all is bob," meaning all is safe or well.

In Dispute: A.J. Balfour was appointed Secretary of Ireland by his Uncle Bob. Nepotism? And Bob's your uncle.

References:

• Urban Legend Archive: Bob's Your Uncle
• Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 15th Edition
• Partridge's A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, 8th Edition