All You Need to Know About the Saying Bob's Your Uncle

Definitions and Use

“Bob’s your uncle” means “everything is alright.” It also refers to a successful result. "Bob's your uncle" can also mean, “It’s as simple as that.” It often appears at the end of a set of instructions to emphasize how easy the process is. For example, you might say, “Go down Main Street, turn right, find the house with the blue front door; Bob’s your uncle.” You can also use “Bob’s your uncle” to conclude any story where the problem gets solved. A good example is, “You didn’t buy enough snacks for the party. Luckily, Sara just arrived and brought more snacks with her, so Bob’s your uncle.”

Where did “Bob’s your uncle” originate? In 1887, British Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil (known as Lord Salisbury) appointed his nephew Arthur James Balfour the Minister for Ireland. For Balfour, the Prime Minister was "Uncle Bob,” causing others to say he got the job because “Bob’s your uncle.” So, “Bob’s your uncle” became slang used for anything semingly reached without effort.

Similar Sayings to “Bob’s Your Uncle”

There are several American sayings similar to “Bob’s your uncle.” They include, “There you go!” or “And there you have it.” Others cite more colorful American phrases as its equivalent, like referring to something as being a “piece of cake” or “easy as pie.” The French variation of “Bob’s your uncle” is “et voilà.” This French phrase means “there you go” in English.”

“Bob’s your uncle” also has a female British equivalent. Many Brits also use the saying, “Fanny’s your aunt,” as a way to emphasize success even more by saying, "Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt."

Where is “Bob’s your uncle” currently used?

The phrase, “Bob’s your uncle” appears in the UK and Ireland. It's also commonly found along other EU Commonwealth countries, including Australia.