A typical Englishman

[stuartnz]

I have never heard those expressions used in the US. However, tonight my wife and I watched "Atonement' and both expressions were used in the dialogue of the film! If I hadn't heard the expressions used in the forum I would have been at a loss for the meaning when they were spoken in the film!

Did you listen to the mp3 I sent you a link to? In it, I mentioned how close Zild is to UK English, and this phrase is an example. :-D

 

[heidita]

Did you listen to the mp3 I sent you a link to? In it, I mentioned how close Zild is to UK English, and this phrase is an example. :-D

Stuart, you speak in riddles: What is Zild?:?:

Nobody so far knew the expression except some BE speakers and you. ( I don't know if the expression is really wide spread in Britain and known all over??)

And no,

does anyone know where "....... and Fanny's my aunt"

Buggles, please explain!!

All this reminds me of the "apples and pairs" I learnt in London. :lol:

(Just as a matter of fact, amigos and Bea: I did not love...BUT I REALLY LIKED Atonement.

The main actress is soooo unearthly with her green dress...(it was chosen the best film dress this year!!). The plot is sad...and sooo true. What envy and jealousy can do to your life.

On the other hand, I do agree with amigos, very confusing at the end. I did love the very end though, Vanessa's intervention is masterful. And sooooo sad.
Definitely not a men's film!;-))

 

[stuartnz]

Stuart, you speak in riddles: What is Zild?:?:

Nobody so far knew the expression except some BE speakers and you. ( I don't know if the expression is really wide spread in Britain and known all over??)

Zild is an informal nickname for NZ English, derived from the way the word "Zealand" often sounds to non-Zilders when said by Zilders.

Given that there are more than 128K ghits for "Bob's your Uncle", including its own quite accurate entry on Wikipedia, I'd say that the relative non-rarity of the phrase is well-attested. Trying to adduce rarity from the lack of affirmations to the contrary smells rather like trying to prove a negative, a notoriously difficult thing to do. You said " Nobody so far knew the expression except some BE speakers and you." when I suspect that a more accurate statement would have been, "Nobody who's seen the thread here and bothered to reply so far knew the expression except some BE speakers and you."

If the absence of posts affirming that the phrase is not rare proves to you that it IS in fact rare, I have some elephant repellent I'd like to sell you. I know it works because I use it every day, and there are never any elephants in my house. Once you've tried it, and realised how well it works, I have this little bridge in Brooklyn you might be interested in buying. :lol::lol:

 

[heidita]

I am a person REALLY difficult to offend, stuart. So I will simply laugh your elephant repellent and this little bridge in Brooklyn off.

127.000 hits on de "Bob's your uncle" do not strike me as a lot, tell you the truth.

Here in Spain definitley almost completely unknown:

143 de "Bob's your uncle"

 

[stuartnz]

127.000 hits on de "Bob's your uncle" do not strike me as a lot, tell you the truth.

Here in Spain definitley almost completely unknown:

143 de "Bob's your uncle"

The ghits are relevant to your question, "I don't know if the expression is really wide spread in Britain and known all over". Naturally, a British English idiom is unlikely to be well known in non-English languages, but the 128K ghits do help establish that's not rare in British English, which was what I was replying to. The real point I was making is that rarity can't be ascertained from the data in this thread.

Having worked in market and social policy research for the last 15 years, I have picked up a bit along the way about valid sample sizes, sampling methodology and question structures. So, when my assertion that the expression is not that uncommon was seemingly challenged on the basis of (a)two Kiwis who said they hadn't heard it, and (b) the fact that only about 3 respondents in this thread admitted familiarity with it, my sublime, exemplary and quite frankly unmatched professionalism, dedication and personal integrity left me with no choice but to dissect the less-than-rigorous data being offered in support of said challenge. Of course, I was sloppy myself because I failed to define the parameters for my assertion, believing them to be understood, which is not good practice in my line of work.

 

[banderas]

I am a person REALLY difficult to offend, stuart. So I will simply laugh your elephant repellent and this little bridge in Brooklyn off.

127.000 hits on de "Bob's your uncle" do not strike me as a lot, tell you the truth.

Here in Spain definitley almost completely unknown:

143 de "Bob's your uncle"

Hi Heidita,

Relying on Google and Wikipedia is not the best practice as we know. And saying that most Zilders know or use one phrase is nothing but generalisation. I guess, you are not the one who should buy "Ellephant Repellent". I would avoid the seller in fact.
Regards
(just) Banderas, not the Banderas;-)

 

[BobK]

...
Nobody so far knew the expression except some BE speakers and you. ( I don't know if the expression is really wide spread in Britain and known all over??)
...

Well I may be a little biased, as people have been saying 'Bob's your uncle' (or some variant, depending on context - e.g 'Bob's my uncle' [my nephew speaking], 'Bob's your cousin' etc) pointedly, in my hearing, for 56 years! Note - those variants aren't idioms - just family jokes. Biased or not, I think it's pretty current in British English.

I'd never heard the addition 'Fanny's your aunt'. Maybe it's a reference to political favours given to an illegitimate child, whose mother was one of the famous mistresses called Fanny (or am I dreaming - history was never my strong point). The only - possibly related, but meaning something entirely different - idiom I know reminiscent of that is the expression 'My Aunt Fanny'
(implying strong disbelief and or disagreement): "Am I going to the wedding? My Aunt Fanny, I am!"

b

 

[stuartnz]

Hi Heidita,
And saying that most Zilders know or use one phrase is nothing but generalisation.

A point I already made. Keep up, lad!

 

[banderas]

A point I already made. Keep up, lad!

A point I already paraphrased.Keep the discussion from getting personal,;-) lad!:-D

 

[stuartnz]

Well I may be a little biased, ... Biased or not, I think it's pretty current in British English.

Thanks for the support, BobK. Sadly, I think this thread demonstrates that people are predisposed to believe whatever they wish to believe and will manipulate or selectively process the data to fit. When data are presented that challenge the predetermined beliefs, such data have to be devalued in some way. Since this is my field, occupationally speaking, I can say that I find it disappointing, but in no way surprising. It's also reminded me that if I don't want something I take seriously to be contemned, stay out of reach of those doing the contemning.

 

[Batfink]

Well I may be a little biased, as people have been saying 'Bob's your uncle' (or some variant, depending on context - e.g 'Bob's my uncle' [my nephew speaking], 'Bob's your cousin' etc) pointedly, in my hearing, for 56 years! Note - those variants aren't idioms - just family jokes. Biased or not, I think it's pretty current in British English.

b

I have heard/used "bob's your uncle' on many occasion.

 

[heidita]

Thanks for the support, BobK. Sadly, I think this thread demonstrates that people are predisposed to believe whatever they wish to believe and will manipulate or selectively process the data to fit.

Indeed, Stuart, indeed!;-)

 

[stuartnz]

Indeed, Stuart, indeed!;-)

Yes, you and banderas did an excellent job of demonstrating that in this thread, thanks.

 

[heidita]

Yes, you and banderas did an excellent job of demonstrating that in this thread, thanks.

Good morning, Stuart, I was not aware you were on-line.

Did we? Thanks for the complement, we do not deserve so much attention, I am sure Banderas, even though he surely deserves it more, such an important name ;-), will agree with me.

Have a nice Sunday, Stuart!:icecream:

 

[banderas]

Did we? I did at least;-):-D;-). Though I did not know that I am here to manipulate or selectively process the data to fit. How sad:-D;-):cheers:.If you go through the history of my posts, then you will realise that every one is just an attempt to manipulate data, yeaeaea!!! Ole!!:up::2gunfire:
But who believes that, hehe?:sleeping:

quote]

 

[buggles]

Am I missing something or did this discussion stray somewhat from "A typical Englishman"?
Not that I'm complaining - merely an observation.

 

[heidita]

Am I missing something or did this discussion stray somewhat from "A typical Englishman"?
Not that I'm complaining - merely an observation.

Indeed, buggles. I was going to ask you again if you knew this "aunt Fanny" bit, too. I would like to know.

 

[buggles]

Indeed, buggles. I was going to ask you again if you knew this "aunt Fanny" bit, too. I would like to know.

At the moment, I'm at a loss, but I'll ask around and see if anyone I know can provide an explanation.
I was hoping that someone out there might know.

 

[Amigos4]

At the moment, I'm at a loss, but I'll ask around and see if anyone I know can provide an explanation.
I was hoping that someone out there might know.

Well, Buggles, I definitely know it isn't my Aunt Fanny! She's never been across the pond! ;-)

Cheers,
Your Uncle Amigo

 

[buggles]

Well, Buggles, I definitely know it isn't my Aunt Fanny! She's never been across the pond! ;-)

Cheers,
Your Uncle Amigo

Hi again, my old friend Amigos4,

Funnily enough, my father's name was Robert and his sister was Fanny so in my family the saying was always "Bob's your father and Fanny's your aunt"!
Not that we knew where the expression came from then.

Buggles