What it means
A classic way to say and there you go, all done after explaining something, especially when you’re making it sound dead easy. People sling it on the end of instructions, DIY tips, recipes, you name it, to mean the job’s sorted. The exact origin’s a bit murky, but it’s been British chat for ages.
Usage examples
"Stick the shelves up, two screws each, bit of filler, quick coat of paint and Bob's your uncle, the hallway looks proper sorted."
"Right, click the link in the email, set a password, scan the QR code on the back of the card and Bob's your uncle, you're enrolled for the year with full library access."
"Whisk the eggs, fold in the flour, pour it in the tin, twenty minutes in the oven and Bob's your uncle, sponge cake that even my Auntie Linda from Cardiff would approve of."
"Just reboot the router, wait for the lights to stop having a little disco, punch in the password again and Bob's your uncle, you're back online."
"Get the sausages on, butter the rolls, splash a bit of sauce in there and Bob's your uncle, you've got dinner sorted."
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Where it comes from
The best known origin ties it to late 19th century British politics. Prime Minister Robert Cecil, known as Bob, promoted his nephew Arthur Balfour, and people started using the line as a cheeky way to mean there you are, sorted. That link is widely repeated, though the jump into everyday speech isn't perfectly nailed down.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
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