Sending a Private Message

Discussion in 'Forum Feedback & Problems' started by poncho455, Aug 21, 2016.

  1. ArchMc

    ArchMc SotM Winner Subscriber

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    @snwcmpr I was kidding. I think CCS is the first place I encountered the phrase, though I've heard it other places too. Actually makes perfect sense to me, but then I've got both an Uncle Bob and an Aunt Fannie. My Aunt Fannie was a city girl who married a banker. He decided to give up banking and take over the family farm. My mom (even more of a city girl) once told me that we were visiting Hedley and Fanny (I was too young to remember this). Fanny saw a rattlesnake out back, and dispatched it with a shotgun from the kitchen porch, and Bob's your uncle.

    ....Arch
     
  2. Tony Press

    Tony Press Netherlands Subscriber

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    @snwcmpr

    "Bob's your uncle" is a common expression here in Australia.

    It is sometimes lengthened to (as my father did):

    "Robert's your father's brother"

    Cheers

    Tony
     
  3. geeves

    geeves New Zealand Subscriber

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    Bobs your uncle is a common saying in NZ except during our last Labour government when we all referred to uncle Helen. Not someone to cross on a dark night but I bet she could use any campstove
     
  4. snwcmpr

    snwcmpr SotM Winner Subscriber

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    It may be a saying, I believe that, it's just that the line doesn't have any meaning. I mean, there isn't any understanding of the words after someone says what it means.
    Sayings, I am supposing, usually have some basis in meaning. "Bob's your uncle" isn't in any way related to anything other than the relative named "Bob".

    I will understand what is meant now, but, I'm just saying.

    Ken in NC
     
  5. Ed Winskill

    Ed Winskill United States Subscriber

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    I sympathize with Ken's point of view, though I knew the Bob's Your Uncle saying.

    It's like Cockney rhyming slang: there is no way (or seems no way) to unravel its meaning. Yes, when a phrase is explained, one gets the idea of how it came about. But there is no way to back-translate....

    One has to be in on the idiom from the beginning.....
     
  6. snwcmpr

    snwcmpr SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Yeah, that.
     
  7. kerry460

    kerry460 Australia R.I.P.

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    I undercanstumble it .

    kerry
     
  8. geeves

    geeves New Zealand Subscriber

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    Bobs your uncle is quite similar to Right as rain or easy peasy.
    essentially meaning your home and hosed which I really hope applied to a horse rather than the rider
     
  9. Tony Press

    Tony Press Netherlands Subscriber

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    @snwcmpr

    I know what you mean, also.

    My father had an expression "it's a wigwam for a gooses bridle", when he didn't want to tell me what something was. See here:

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_wigwam_for_a_goose's_bridle


    And we here in Australia often use cockney rhyming slang once removed. As in:

    "I'm heading outside for a snake's" which references Cockney rhyming slang "snake's hiss", meaning to p!ss.

    Cheers

    Tony
     
  10. shagratork

    shagratork United Kingdom Moderator, R.I.P. Subscriber

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    'Bob's your uncle'

    Wikipedia says:
    A.J. Langguth and others have suggested that the expression arose after Conservative Prime Minister Robert "Bob" Cecil appointed his nephew Arthur Balfour as Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1887, an act which was apparently both surprising and unpopular. In this sense, the expression also carried a hint of sarcastic envy or resentment, rather like "it's who you know, not what you know" that gets results, or "easy when you know how."

    In any case, the meaning has become acknowledging, announcing, or explaining a result or outcome that is achieved more easily than might be imagined.
     
  11. Longilily

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    Corr blimey guv'nor , would you Adam and Eve it 8)

    Cheers Trev me ole China :lol: ;)
     
  12. ArchMc

    ArchMc SotM Winner Subscriber

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    I figured it was probably from a day when there were fewer given names and larger families, so that practically everybody had an Uncle Bob.

    ....Arch
     
  13. amkaplan United States

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    Greetings,

    I guess I'm another rare member. I found this forum in tracking down a modification to allow CampinGaz Easy Clic stoves to mount on Lindal cartridges, and would appreciate clarifying some details with the author. I'd appreciate a pass to be able to message to do that.

    Cheers,

    Allan
     
  14. snwcmpr

    snwcmpr SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Welcome to the forum.
     
  15. Ray123

    Ray123 Subscriber

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    Welcome to CCS. Now that you have one post you should be able to private message other members. It's possible if you message a member to ask about an old thread that the member may no longer be active so it may be easier to start your own thread. New information may have come to light since that old post.
     
  16. snwcmpr

    snwcmpr SotM Winner Subscriber

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    That makes sense to me now.
     
  17. Murph

    Murph United States Subscriber

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    Or as I heard on "A Touch of Frost"from one character, "I'll be along, gotta see Jimmie Riddle."

    Others were, "Stop feeding us porkies, eh?"

    Wife did a good 'un one evening, asked if I brought John Bristol along for the night.

    Why, yes, dear - I most certainly did.

    Murph
     
  18. amkaplan United States

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    Thanks!

    Allan