Uncle *** is here

[Gonta]

I am now working on translating a script and I found the phrase "Unlce *** is here". (*** is a character's name).
What does this mean?

The character tells his wife that he'll buy her a gift to make up with her, where he says "Uncle...".

I appreciate your help!

 

[MrPedantic]

Hello Gonta, welcome to UE!

It's a little difficult to say, without more context; but uncles are popularly supposed to be genial, generous people.

So by saying "Uncle X is here!", he is humorously presenting himself in a kindly, benign, generous, indeed avuncular light.

It is possibly also a little self-deprecatory; uncles and aunts tend to be regarded as harmlessly asexual, by their nephews and nieces. Perhaps that's what the character wishes to imply, in your context: generous, but without "ulterior motives".

All the best,

MrP

 

[baqarah131]

Really do need more context. Is it possible something more sinister is going on here? I've heard that "Bob's your uncle" is what a woman tells her children to hide the fact that she's having an affair. And of course "cry uncle" means to surrender. I wonder how many uncle idioms there are.

best wishes at new year's
edward

Hello Gonta, welcome to UE!



It's a little difficult to say, without more context; but uncles are popularly supposed to be genial, generous people.

So by saying "Uncle X is here!", he is humorously presenting himself in a kindly, benign, generous, indeed avuncular light.

It is possibly also a little self-deprecatory; uncles and aunts tend to be regarded as harmlessly asexual, by their nephews and nieces. Perhaps that's what the character wishes to imply, in your context: generous, but without "ulterior motives".

All the best,

MrP

 

[Gonta]

Hi MrPedantic and baqarah131,

Thank you for your reply!
It is very interesting to know that there are many phrases and expressions using "uncle".

I'll add more context. On the day, the character called John (around 50 years old) tried to buy her the accessory which she wanted. But the shop was closed and he couldn't buy it.
Then, he bought a bunch of roses for her. Thanks to this, he was able to make up with her. So, he thought he would not need the accessory for her (because they already made up), and he said OK when his friend Mike asked him if he could buy his girlfriend the accessory. John's wife got angry again to hear that and John says sorry and he will go to the shop earlier than anyone to buy it. She says OK, and he says "Uncle John...." and both of them together ends the phrase saying "...is here". She is smiling, seems satisfied, while he also seems relieved to see her smile.

John is a kind of a character who is always desparate, irritated facing some little accidents and unfair things. The story itself is a comedy unsparing and self-deprecating! So, "generous, but without ulterior motives" might be implied...

I hope those context helps.

Best wishes for a happy new year!

Gonta

 

[baqarah131]

Thanks! It sounds like Mr. Pedantic's explanation was right on the money.

Good luck with the translation!
edward

Hi MrPedantic and baqarah131,

Thank you for your reply!
It is very interesting to know that there are many phrases and expressions using "uncle".

I'll add more context. On the day, the character called John (around 50 years old) tried to buy her the accessory which she wanted. But the shop was closed and he couldn't buy it.
Then, he bought a bunch of roses for her. Thanks to this, he was able to make up with her. So, he thought he would not need the accessory for her (because they already made up), and he said OK when his friend Mike asked him if he could buy his girlfriend the accessory. John's wife got angry again to hear that and John says sorry and he will go to the shop earlier than anyone to buy it. She says OK, and he says "Uncle John...." and both of them together ends the phrase saying "...is here". She is smiling, seems satisfied, while he also seems relieved to see her smile.

John is a kind of a character who is always desparate, irritated facing some little accidents and unfair things. The story itself is a comedy unsparing and self-deprecating! So, "generous, but without ulterior motives" might be implied...

I hope those context helps.

Best wishes for a happy new year!

Gonta

 

[Delmobile]

Is "John" the character's name? I am wondering if there is some extremely topical reference here.

Edward, there's "Dutch uncle" and "Uncle Tom" to add to your list. (I seem to be surrounded by racist language tonight )

[not a teacher]

 

[baqarah131]

Uncle Tom in Canada is an expression used by First Nations people to describe an Indian who is overly fond of the white man's ways. I've also heard Uncle Tomahawk.
Uncle Sam is the government of the United States, especially the military and the tax collection people.
Uncle John was Stalin, at least for a while.

There are more, but I'll sign off before I bore forum members to the point where they cry uncle.

regards
edward

Is "John" the character's name? I am wondering if there is some extremely topical reference here.

Edward, there's "Dutch uncle" and "Uncle Tom" to add to your list. (I seem to be surrounded by racist language tonight )

[not a teacher]

 

[Delmobile]

How interesting! "Uncle Tom" of course comes from the character in the influential 19th century American novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It is used here as a disparaging term for an African-American person who is perceived as toadying to whites. And now we have "Uncle Tomahawk." Wow.

Goodness, I forgot all about Uncle Sam.

 

[MrPedantic]

John's wife got angry again to hear that and John says sorry and he will go to the shop earlier than anyone to buy it. She says OK, and he says "Uncle John...." and both of them together ends the phrase saying "...is here". She is smiling, seems satisfied, while he also seems relieved to see her smile.

Seeing the larger context, I now wonder whether it's a running private joke, within the context of the play, or a reference to some previous incident.

(Sorry to muddy the waters.)

MrP

PS: Stalin – Uncle John or Uncle Joe?

 

[baqarah131]

Stalin was Uncle Joe. Sorry, I've got to do a better job of proofreading.
thanks
edward

Seeing the larger context, I now wonder whether it's a running private joke, within the context of the play, or a reference to some previous incident.

(Sorry to muddy the waters.)

MrP

PS: Stalin – Uncle John or Uncle Joe?

 

[Gonta]

I am sorry to confuse you, but the character's name is not John. In terms of confidentiality (for my work), I used a different name in the context I gave you, just in case. The name is neither John, Joe, Sam, nor Tom.

It is very interesting that there are many phrases using "uncle", some of which you show I do not find in my dictionary (like "Uncle Tomahawk"!).

With regard to Mr. Pedantic's comment, I' ll add another context. In the previous night when they were in bed, the character who wanted to make up with his wife asked her whether she wanted to have sex (of course she refused). So, I suppose he says "Uncle *** is here" to express he does not have ulterior motives. Also, now he knows that his wife wants him not to take the accessory as just a tool to make up, and he wants to show his generosity.

Thank you for your help and additional "uncle" phrases!!

Regards,

Gonta