bob-on (UK English slang/dialect)

[ztd]

Does anyone know the origin of the UK English slang/dialect term "bob-on"?
(not sure if it's hyphenated or not, since I've never seen it written down
before).

I live in the north west of England in the county of Lancashire and first
heard the expression here (although I grew up in the south east in the
county of Kent).
I've never heard the term used in Kent, although it's been years since I
lived there and terms do tend to migrate with time.
I don't know if it originated in the north west or elsewhere, or where else
the term is used in the UK, or even if it's used in other English-speaking
countries.

Basically I reckon it means "great", or "slightly better than great", but
(IMO) falling slightly short of absolutely perfect.

For example:
Friend A: "Was the film good you saw last night at the cinema?"
Friend B: "Yeah, it was bob-on" [i.e. it was a great film, not perfect, but
very good]

Waiter: "How was your meal?"
Customer: "It was bob-on" [i.e. the food was very tasty, not perfect, but
well worth recommending]

It can also mean "accurate".
e.g. Auditor 1: I make that a pre-tax profit of 687 billion trillion
squillion
Auditor 2: Me too, that's bob-on

Does anyone know the origin of this term, and if you've heard this term
before in a county other than Lancs then please let me know what part of the
UK you're in.
If you've also heard it used in other contexts, then again please let me
know.

Thanks

[ztd]

Post by ztd
Does anyone know the origin of the UK English slang/dialect term "bob-on"?
(not sure if it's hyphenated or not, since I've never seen it written down
before).
I live in the north west of England in the county of Lancashire and first
heard the expression here (although I grew up in the south east in the
county of Kent).
I've never heard the term used in Kent, although it's been years since I
lived there and terms do tend to migrate with time.
I don't know if it originated in the north west or elsewhere, or where
else the term is used in the UK, or even if it's used in other
English-speaking countries.
Basically I reckon it means "great", or "slightly better than great", but
(IMO) falling slightly short of absolutely perfect.
Friend A: "Was the film good you saw last night at the cinema?"
Friend B: "Yeah, it was bob-on" [i.e. it was a great film, not perfect,
but very good]
Waiter: "How was your meal?"
Customer: "It was bob-on" [i.e. the food was very tasty, not perfect, but
well worth recommending]
It can also mean "accurate".
e.g. Auditor 1: I make that a pre-tax profit of 687 billion trillion
squillion
Auditor 2: Me too, that's bob-on

On reflection this doesn't seem to make much sense.
When used in non-technical, non-financial, non-mathematical contexts
"bob-on" means (IMO) "good, but not perfect" (i.e. IMO from the contexts
I've heard it used in).
In technical, financial, mathematical contexts on the other hand, "bob-on"
means "exactly right", "totally accurate" (as opposed to "nearly exactly
right", "almost totally accurate").
I'm only stating this from my impression of what "bob-on" means in the
contexts I've heard it used in -- my impression(s) may be wrong of course.

[sage]

Post by ztd

Post by ztd
Does anyone know the origin of the UK English slang/dialect term
"bob-on"? (not sure if it's hyphenated or not, since I've never seen
it written down before).
I live in the north west of England in the county of Lancashire and
first heard the expression here (although I grew up in the south east
in the county of Kent).
I've never heard the term used in Kent, although it's been years since
I lived there and terms do tend to migrate with time.
I don't know if it originated in the north west or elsewhere, or where
else the term is used in the UK, or even if it's used in other
English-speaking countries.
Basically I reckon it means "great", or "slightly better than great",
but (IMO) falling slightly short of absolutely perfect.
Friend A: "Was the film good you saw last night at the cinema?"
Friend B: "Yeah, it was bob-on" [i.e. it was a great film, not
perfect, but very good]
Waiter: "How was your meal?"
Customer: "It was bob-on" [i.e. the food was very tasty, not perfect,
but well worth recommending]
It can also mean "accurate".
e.g. Auditor 1: I make that a pre-tax profit of 687 billion trillion
squillion
Auditor 2: Me too, that's bob-on

On reflection this doesn't seem to make much sense.
When used in non-technical, non-financial, non-mathematical contexts
"bob-on" means (IMO) "good, but not perfect" (i.e. IMO from the contexts
I've heard it used in).
In technical, financial, mathematical contexts on the other hand,
"bob-on" means "exactly right", "totally accurate" (as opposed to
"nearly exactly right", "almost totally accurate").
I'm only stating this from my impression of what "bob-on" means in the
contexts I've heard it used in -- my impression(s) may be wrong of course.

Never heard the expression before, but how's this for another example.
"My plumb bob's hanging right on the mark. It's bob on."

Cheers, Sage

[ztd]

Post by ztd

Post by ztd
Does anyone know the origin of the UK English slang/dialect term
"bob-on"? (not sure if it's hyphenated or not, since I've never seen it
written down before).
I live in the north west of England in the county of Lancashire and
first heard the expression here (although I grew up in the south east in
the county of Kent).
I've never heard the term used in Kent, although it's been years since I
lived there and terms do tend to migrate with time.
I don't know if it originated in the north west or elsewhere, or where
else the term is used in the UK, or even if it's used in other
English-speaking countries.
Basically I reckon it means "great", or "slightly better than great",
but (IMO) falling slightly short of absolutely perfect.
Friend A: "Was the film good you saw last night at the cinema?"
Friend B: "Yeah, it was bob-on" [i.e. it was a great film, not perfect,
but very good]
Waiter: "How was your meal?"
Customer: "It was bob-on" [i.e. the food was very tasty, not perfect,
but well worth recommending]
It can also mean "accurate".
e.g. Auditor 1: I make that a pre-tax profit of 687 billion trillion
squillion
Auditor 2: Me too, that's bob-on

On reflection this doesn't seem to make much sense.
When used in non-technical, non-financial, non-mathematical contexts
"bob-on" means (IMO) "good, but not perfect" (i.e. IMO from the contexts
I've heard it used in).
In technical, financial, mathematical contexts on the other hand,
"bob-on" means "exactly right", "totally accurate" (as opposed to "nearly
exactly right", "almost totally accurate").
I'm only stating this from my impression of what "bob-on" means in the
contexts I've heard it used in -- my impression(s) may be wrong of course.

Never heard the expression before, but how's this for another example. "My
plumb bob's hanging right on the mark. It's bob on."
Cheers, Sage

LOL -- and if you're talking to someone called Bob that'd be:
My plumb bob's hanging right on the mark Bob. It's bob on Bob.

[Mark Brader]

Post by ztd

Never heard the expression before, but how's this for another example. "My
plumb bob's hanging right on the mark. It's bob on."

My plumb bob's hanging right on the mark Bob. It's bob on Bob.

You forgot "..., and Bob's your uncle."

[ztd]

Post by ztd
Does anyone know the origin of the UK English slang/dialect term "bob-on"?
(not sure if it's hyphenated or not, since I've never seen it written down
before).
I live in the north west of England in the county of Lancashire and first
heard the expression here (although I grew up in the south east in the
county of Kent).
I've never heard the term used in Kent, although it's been years since I
lived there and terms do tend to migrate with time.
I don't know if it originated in the north west or elsewhere, or where
else the term is used in the UK, or even if it's used in other
English-speaking countries.
Basically I reckon it means "great", or "slightly better than great", but
(IMO) falling slightly short of absolutely perfect.
Friend A: "Was the film good you saw last night at the cinema?"
Friend B: "Yeah, it was bob-on" [i.e. it was a great film, not perfect,
but very good]
Waiter: "How was your meal?"
Customer: "It was bob-on" [i.e. the food was very tasty, not perfect, but
well worth recommending]

And on even further reflection, my definitions also depend on the intonation
or tone of voice or body language used.
If someone says "bob-on" in a sort of cheery voice, or in a way that
suggests that the people in question mean what they're saying, then I reckon
my definitions/explanations hold up.
But if someone says "bob-on", but actually means the complete opposite by
their tone of voice and/body language, then my definitions/explanations are
shot to pieces.
Although the same could be said of the term "great" as well I suppose.

[John Dean]

Post by ztd
Does anyone know the origin of the UK English slang/dialect term
"bob-on"? (not sure if it's hyphenated or not, since I've never seen
it written down before).
I live in the north west of England in the county of Lancashire and
first heard the expression here (although I grew up in the south east
in the county of Kent).
I've never heard the term used in Kent, although it's been years
since I lived there and terms do tend to migrate with time.
I don't know if it originated in the north west or elsewhere, or
where else the term is used in the UK, or even if it's used in other
English-speaking countries.
Basically I reckon it means "great", or "slightly better than great",
but (IMO) falling slightly short of absolutely perfect.
Friend A: "Was the film good you saw last night at the cinema?"
Friend B: "Yeah, it was bob-on" [i.e. it was a great film, not
perfect, but very good]

New to me who was born and raised in the North Wet. I know "bobby dazzler"
for something good. And, noting that you say elsethread that tone of voice
can cause "bob-in" to mean the opposite, I offer "bobbins" (probably from
cotton weaving days) meaning "crap" as in "Dead Poets' Society were right
bobbins".
OED records "bob" as an adjective meaning "nice" in days of yore.

[Oleg Lego]

Post by ztd
Does anyone know the origin of the UK English slang/dialect term "bob-on"?
(not sure if it's hyphenated or not, since I've never seen it written down
before).

Sounds like a subtitle for a comedy film, _Carry On Swimming_

[Amethyst Deceiver]

Post by ztd
Does anyone know the origin of the UK English slang/dialect term
"bob-on"? (not sure if it's hyphenated or not, since I've never seen
it written down before).
I live in the north west of England in the county of Lancashire and
first heard the expression here (although I grew up in the south east
in the county of Kent).
I've never heard the term used in Kent, although it's been years
since I lived there and terms do tend to migrate with time.
I don't know if it originated in the north west or elsewhere, or
where else the term is used in the UK, or even if it's used in other
English-speaking countries.
Basically I reckon it means "great", or "slightly better than great",
but (IMO) falling slightly short of absolutely perfect.

I've always taken it to be the same as "spot on", or "just right". I
live over the border in Wet Yorks.