Dictionary

Bob's your uncle en · X

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Unknown. Several unsupported theories exist about its origin. A common explanation, involving Arthur Balfour gaining a promotion through the supposed intercession of his uncle, Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, is doubted because the expression did not appear in print until 1924.

Meanings

1. (Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, idiomatic) No problem, the solution is simple, there you have it, it's that easy, you have what you want, all will be well: indicates a desirable conclusion has been reached with ease.
   • All you need to do is learn to make these little loops and Bob's your uncle, you're a real live knitter. 2011, Lauren O'Farrel, Stitch London: 20 Kooky Ways to Knit the City and More, page 112:
   • Click the Import Contacts button and—Bob's your uncle (that's "Tada!" for my readers)—you should see a confirmation that all went according to plan, and your contacts have been imported into your Gmail address book. 2007, Preston Gralla, Big Book of Windows Hacks, O'Reilly Media, page 314:
   • Insert the plug, press the switch, and Bob's your uncle.
   • And you're not going to give me that stuff about just shoving over the lever and bob's your uncle. You forget the times the fellow gets caught and has to be kicked off the edge of the trap hole. 1954, Brendan Behan, The Quare Fellow, act 3; republished in Cóilín Owens, Joan Newlon Radner, editors, Irish Drama, 1900–1980, 1990, page 591:
   • Simply type in a description of your item and Bob's your uncle: someone, somewhere in the eBay virtual universe will be selling something similar. 2008, Julian Knight, Wills, Probate, & Inheritance Tax For Dummies, UK, unnumbered page:
   • You want to go to the stadium? Go straight on until you reach the park, take the first left and Bob's your uncle!

Forms

Synonyms

voilà · Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt · job's a good 'un · Robert's your father's brother · Robert's your uncle · hey presto · Bob's your father's brother · Bob's your mother's brother · Robert's your mother's brother

Translations (24)

pt é batata (desirable conclusion is reached) · pt está no papo (desirable conclusion is reached) · fr le tour est joué (desirable conclusion is reached) · hu már ott is vagy (desirable conclusion is reached) · ru вуаля́ (desirable conclusion is reached) · hu ennyi (az egész) (desirable conclusion is reached) · pt prontinho (desirable conclusion is reached) · cy dyna ti (desirable conclusion is reached) · cmn 就這樣唄 /就这样呗 (desirable conclusion is reached) · pt não tem erro (desirable conclusion is reached) · de und schon haben wir's (desirable conclusion is reached) · id Bob adalah pamanmu (desirable conclusion is reached) · es listoco (desirable conclusion is reached) · hu már meg is vagy (desirable conclusion is reached) · nl klaar is Kees (desirable conclusion is reached) · es vualá (desirable conclusion is reached) · cy dyna chi (desirable conclusion is reached) · es ya está (desirable conclusion is reached) · pt pronto (desirable conclusion is reached) · fr c'est parti mon kiki (desirable conclusion is reached) · fi se on siinä (desirable conclusion is reached) · cy dyna ni (desirable conclusion is reached) · mk кој ка́ко те́бе? (desirable conclusion is reached) · fr et voilà le travail (desirable conclusion is reached)

wikipedia: Arthur Balfour · wikipedia: Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury