Bob's your uncle
1
9.9
- idiom
- UK
:
y listo
- You set the alarm, turn off the lights, and Bob's your uncle – bedtime is sorted.
Examples
-
Just follow these simple steps, add the ingredients, and Bob's your uncle!
-
...and Bob's your uncle.
-
Mix the paint and water together, and Bob's your uncle – you're ready to start your project.
Synonyms
51
1.0
Something very easy to do
15
1.0
Very easy to do
4
1.7
Very easy to do with little skill
1
2.8
Easy to do and without problems after it starts
Very easy to do and understand
How Easy
26
2.6
- Informal
51
1.0
- UK
1
9.9
- Informal
618
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The idiomatic meaning 'that's all; it's simple' cannot be derived from the literal constituents 'Bob's' (a personal name), 'your' and 'uncle' — knowing those words does not signal the pragmatic sense. The expression is culturally specific and historically opaque, so a B1 learner who knows the component words would not reliably infer its meaning.
Etymology
Bob's your uncle may come from an old British story about a leader named Robert 'Bob' who gave his nephew a good job very easily. The idea is that if Bob was your uncle, things would be fixed quickly and without trouble, so today the phrase means 'it's easy' or 'you're done'.