# Bob's your uncle **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 15, 2001, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobs-your-uncle/68926 "2001-06-15T13:34:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![E\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a8b319/32.png) [@E\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobs-your-uncle/68926/1 "2001-06-15T13:34:08Z")
I notice that there are quite a few Brits around on this site, so…in keeping with the original intention of the Straight Dope, what’s the origin of the phrase “Bob’s your uncle”? As an American now living in the UK, it’s one of the few phrases that I have no clue about. My only (uneducated) guess is that it has something to do with the guy that the police ‘Bobbies’ are named after. My life is empty without this knowledge… ---
**Author:** ![Perderabo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Perderabo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perderabo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobs-your-uncle/68926/2 "2001-06-15T13:56:33Z")
I’m not a Brit, but look at [this link.](http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20010116) ---
**Author:** ![E\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a8b319/32.png) [@E\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobs-your-uncle/68926/3 "2001-06-15T14:18:48Z")
Well done. Cheers, mate. ---
**Author:** ![E\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a8b319/32.png) [@E\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobs-your-uncle/68926/4 "2001-06-15T14:18:48Z")
Well done. Cheers, mate. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobs-your-uncle/68926/5 "2001-06-15T17:09:57Z")
For the record, I am an uncle. ---
**Author:** ![Grok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Grok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grok)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobs-your-uncle/68926/6 "2001-06-15T23:21:49Z")
I remember hearing this expression on an episode of **Fawlty Towers** , and also wondered what it meant. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2001, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobs-your-uncle/68926/7 "2001-06-17T12:19:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BobT \* > \*\*For the record, I am an uncle. \*\* Aren’t we all? ---
**Author:** ![wooba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@wooba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wooba)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2001, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobs-your-uncle/68926/8 "2001-06-17T15:38:46Z")
FYI, I use this expression all the time, but I usually add on to the end of it “and Fanny’s your aunt” Why? I’m not really sure… my brother used to say it when I was younger… it could be something he and his school mates made up, I don’t know… ---
**Author:** ![Iguana\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@Iguana\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iguana_Boy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2001, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobs-your-uncle/68926/9 "2001-06-17T17:05:32Z")
Well after the recent accident, Bob’s now my aunt… 😉