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bobs your uncle

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zzxxee | 19:41 Wed 09th Dec 2009 | Phrases & Sayings
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where does this saying come from?
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Question Author
lol x
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Good grief, what on earth did the other answerers say?

The accepted reason, although nothing seems to exist that guarantees it, is that Lord Salisbury, when Prime Minister in 1887, appointed Arthur Balfour to the then prestigious position of Chief Secretary for Ireland, Salisbury, real name Robert Cecil, was Balfour's uncle. And there you go.

But there's nothing about to prove that.
Question Author
thanx
There's bit more to it than one appointment, Every time Saisbury was in a position to do so, he promoted his nephew to yet another, higher, post. And the greatest post, Prime Minister, was awarded to Balfour on Salisbury retiring as Prime Minister. The expression 'Bob's your uncle' was , reportedly, known in Whitehall talk in Balfour's lifetime but not it was not put into print until Balfour was, conveniently, dead and therefore could not sue for the libellous innuendo in it.

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bobs your uncle

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