Bob's Your Uncle

Bob’s Your Uncle (phrase / UK Slang)

(Also heard as: And Bob’s your uncle, Bob’s yer uncle)

Definition:

“And that is it”, “job done” or “it is that easy”. It is said at the end of a set of simple instructions.

Where It Comes From:

A popular story says it began in 1887, when Prime Minister Robert “Bob” Cecil, Lord Salisbury, gave his nephew Arthur Balfour a government job, leaving everyone to say “Bob’s your uncle”. It is a great tale, but nobody has proved it and the true origin is still uncertain. The phrase has been used in Britain for well over a century and is also heard in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

How People Actually Use It:

Tacked on to the end of recipes, DIY tips, directions and basic how-to advice to show that the job is done. It usually follows a short list of steps, with a hint that the whole thing is not as hard as it sounds. It is friendly and a bit old-fashioned, but still used all the time.

Examples in the Wild:

• “Add the water, stir it, and Bob’s your uncle.”

  Meaning: That is all there is to it.

• “Just plug it in, press the button and Bob’s your uncle.”

  Meaning: It is simple, and it will work.

• “Fill in the form, hand it over and Bob’s your uncle.”

  Meaning: The process is finished.

Similar Slang:

Easy, Job done, Easy peasy, Piece of cake, Sorted, Doddle