BS: Who's Bob?

Subject: BS: Who's Bob?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 10 Oct 15 - 11:28 PM

Every so often I run across one of these two phrases: Bob's your uncle and Bob's a'dyin. Who's Bob?

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Oct 15 - 11:44 PM

yes, and Bob you head going through the tunnel...

God! life is strange! will we ever get to the bottom of these mysteries..?

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Megan L
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 02:43 AM

There is no mystery

Bob was ma uncle
Bod was over six foot and a miner in the pick and shovel days so he had to do a lot of booing in the tunnels
Bob is died so at one point we said Bobs a dying
:)

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 02:59 AM

He's your fathers brother.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 04:03 AM

I know who Bob is, because I want to be Bobbys Girl.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 04:07 AM

and Bob a job,a shilling for a job, but why was a shilling called a bob?

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 04:32 AM

A shilling was the decimal part of a ten bob note. It was called a bob because shilling didn't rhyme with job.
;-)

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 05:28 AM

In 1887, British Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil appointed his nephew Arthur James Balfour as Minister for Ireland. The phrase 'Bob's your uncle' was coined when Arthur referred to the Prime Minister as 'Uncle Bob'. Apparently, it's very simple to become a minister when Bob's your uncle!

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 05:42 AM

Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 06:00 AM

When we were little lads oop north, going to have a bob meant going for a poo. Sorry to lower the tone.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 06:14 AM

"called a bob because shilling didn't rhyme with job."
.,,.
I have always thought it would be more seemly to call it "a shilling-for-the-willing day".
.,,.

"going to have a bob meant going for a poo"

Did you call it that because you regarded a poo as equivalent to 5 pees, Steve?

≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 06:47 AM

I'm a bit older than that, sadly.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 07:13 AM

A shilling was the decimal part of a ten bob note. It was called a bob because shilling didn't rhyme with job."
that sounds like a load of bobpoo.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 09:40 AM

In the US, Uncle Bob's is a provider of rental storage units for people with too much stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: gnu
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 10:12 AM

Glad I saw this. I forgot to call Bob.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 10:20 AM

"Bob's a dying" is a new one to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 11:52 AM

I suspect that Will is on the right track but let's keep it going.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 12:14 PM

The guy I'm thinking about was named Bob Raann. He was the subject of a song that most of us will recall from our pasts.

Bob Raann, for your listening pleasure.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 12:35 PM

Bob was my uncle, a WW2 vet and a firefighter. Bob was also one of my best friends, he served as a medic in VN and died of stomach cancer brought on by smoking. Then there was Plumb Bob, who tried to keep up straight, and the one we called Bobber who we tied to a fishing line, and of course, Bobert.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 03:09 PM

There was Bob the Builder who gave Obama his catchphrase "yes we can"

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 03:24 PM

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/bobs-your-uncle.html

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 03:58 PM

In Blackadder, Kate is short for Bob. You really had to see it.

Blackadder: What's your name, boy?
Kate: Kate.
Blackadder: That's an odd name for a boy...
Kate: Erm...short for Bob.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 06:28 PM

Interesting. In our music group, we always played 'Uncle Bob's tune' for the last of the evening, because George always said that his uncle played it last.

Now, I am wondering. Was George pulling our leg(s)?

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: JennieG
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 09:02 PM

Bob was Himself's late uncle, so I could truly say "Bob's your uncle!"

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Gurney
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 09:08 PM

In my circle, "Bob's your Uncle!" was usually followed by "And Fanny's your Aunt!" No idea why, unless P.M.Gascoyn-Cecil was married to a Frances.

A theory that I've just thought of for the etymology of the bob/shilling is that a shilling may have been the coin that you fed into the gas-meter. A gascoin.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 09:14 PM

There was Cumberland Bob, father of Charlie Lampshire, who was the dad of one of my childhood friends. Cumberland Bob was one of the finest drystone wallers who ever drew breath.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Gurney
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 09:37 PM

Yeah! The theory that I just thought of above seems to me as likely as calling early London policemen 'Bobbys/Bobbies' or Peelers' just because they were organised by Sir Robert Peel. And in the Boer war, General Roberts was known as 'Bobs,' as in the chorus of 'The Baby's Name.'

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 10:00 PM

OK, Gurney, how's it go?

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 10:54 PM

What!? A request for lyrics below the line???

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 11:39 PM

If it bothers you, consider it poetry.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 03:46 AM

Bob's my dad, age 95. I confess I've sometimes made fun of his plain-Jane name, but he takes it pretty well.

In my mind, anybody named Bob, must be a good guy.

I knew a woman named Bob years ago, and she was Ultimately Sexy....but that's another story.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 06:41 AM

From The Penguin Dictioary of English Idioms (1986)
And Bob's your uncle! - now you have what you want.
When the young Balfour was given a ministerial post by his uncle, Lord Robert Salisbury, the Prime Minister, members of the opposition said 'Bob's your uncle', meaning that with such an uncle he could have whatever he wanted.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: frogprince
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 10:50 AM

Joe's dad Bob is just a kid of 95; my wife's dad Bob is 97. He still has most of his marbles, but in the last year or so a few of them slip in and out of the bag.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 11:37 AM

You seem to have seen the movie "Hook."

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Gurney
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 05:44 PM

Ebarnacle, it was sung by Cosmotheka in England, and recordings are available.

The chorus that I sang was slightly different because I got it from my Dad.
'The baby's name is Kitchener Gatacre Methuen Crondell White, Kronje Kruger Powell Majuba (somebody)Warren Colinza Buller Capetown Mafaking French Kimberly Ladysmith Bobs, Union Jack, fighting Mac, Luddite Pretoria Blobbs!'

Blobbs being the baby's surname. No-one joins in the chorus, though.
It is all about a patriotic christening at the height of the Boer War.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Gurney
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 09:04 PM

Make that Lyddite, not Luddite. A whole different meaning!

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: GUEST,DTM
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 09:37 PM

"It black over Bob's mother's."
Said by a work colleague from the Manchester area whenever black clouds were approaching.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: GUEST,DTM
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 09:39 PM

And Oor Wullie often says "Help ma Boab"

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 09:52 PM

' And Oor Wullie often says "Help ma Boab" '

Wasn't that Rhonda?

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Mooh
Date: 13 Oct 15 - 11:58 AM

Was IS my uncle. He was also my Dad. No, wait, that doesn't sound right.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 15 - 12:36 PM

It's a guy with no arms and no legs in a swimming pool

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: GUEST,Bizibod
Date: 13 Oct 15 - 04:58 PM

If your Bob don't gi' ahr Bob
That bob as your Bob owes ahr Bob,
Ahr Bob'll gi' your Bob a bob in the eye !

No idea where that comes from- I just recalled it!

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: GUEST,Triplane
Date: 13 Oct 15 - 06:15 PM

These days " Bob could be your Aunty Remined me of Chic Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Oct 15 - 08:18 PM

"It's a guy with no arms and no legs in a swimming pool"

Nah, you're confused. You're thinking of the man with no arms and no legs who swam the Channel -- Clever Dick!

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 14 Oct 15 - 09:15 AM

Help me, Bob, I'm Bully on the alley.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Oct 15 - 09:56 AM

Who was that bloke who kept a ten-bob note up his nose?

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Oct 15 - 10:01 AM

Ah, mean Mr Mustard!

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: saulgoldie
Date: 15 Oct 15 - 08:06 AM

J. R. "Bob" Dobbs, founder and honored leader of the Church of the Sub-Genius. Praise be unto Him!

Saul

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: BobChiswick
Date: 15 Oct 15 - 04:06 PM

I have a claim here!

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 17 Oct 15 - 11:11 AM

Just to make 50!

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 17 Oct 15 - 04:32 PM

50 Bob? As in the Fifty-Shilling Tailors: anyone old enough to remember them?

One of the verses of "When the Red Revolution Comes" went, back in my early folk-club days nearly 60 years ago, [inevitably to tune of John Brown's Body as nearly everything does unless it goes to Villikins & His Dinah] --

We'll make Monty Burton wear a fifty shilling suit [x3]
When the Red Revolution comes

≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 30 May 20 - 03:23 PM

re: Aunt Fanny, above, there is a comment: Sweet Fanny Adams, much beloved by the euphemizers, meaning "Fuck all."

I came across this advert today:
https://dirtyoldgoat.com/collections/topical-mugs/products/cnorfolk-where-bob-is-not-necessarily-just-your-uncle-norfolk-mugs

It was linked to an article about the return of dragons to the skies of Norfolk:


https://www.suffolkgazette.com/news/lack-of-planes-sees-dragons-return-to-norfolk-skyline/

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 31 May 20 - 02:04 AM

Then there was Bob in that Not the Nine O'clock News sketch!

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 31 May 20 - 02:11 AM

From my iphone - I hope this works Bob!!

Bob!!

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 May 20 - 02:16 AM

Bob's my dad, but he's dead now - so I'm the patriarch.

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 31 May 20 - 02:43 AM

Fanny's your aunt and Bob's your mothers brother OK

Subject: RE: BS: Who's Bob?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 02 Jun 20 - 04:03 AM

One suggestion for the origin of this is that 'Uncle' was a common term for a pawnbroker - see the song, 'Pop Goes the Weasle' - and Bob and Fanny were proprietors of such an establishment - always made sense to me   
Jim