Discussion Groups / English Usage / October 2007

Thanks for that, padre: very interesting. I'll make sure Uncle Ratz
hasn't forgotten you.

On Oct 24, 3:28 am, "Father Ignatius"
<FatherIgnat...@ANTISPAMananzi.co.za> wrote:

The classic Brit nepotism is also described in Wiki, thusly:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob%27s_your_uncle

...In 1887, British Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess
of Salisbury, appointed his nephew Arthur James Balfour as Minister
for Ireland. The press had a field day when he referred to the Prime
Minister as "Uncle Bob".[..] Balfour later went on to become Prime
Minister himself. This theory claims that to have "Bob" as one's uncle
is a guarantee of success, hence the implied meaning, "and if you do
this, you cannot fail."
[end excerpt]

This write-up doesn't mention that Balfour's appointment as Minister
for Ireland followed closely several other appointments that, in just
two years, elevated him from entry-level status in the government and
rocketed him ahead of long-term careerists.

--
Aloha ~~~ Ozzie Maland ~~~ San Diego