Bob is a common slang term used in British English with several meanings depending on the context. Some of the most common meanings of Bob as British slang are:
Bob as a noun referring to a shilling
One of the earliest meanings of Bob referring to a British shilling (a unit of currency) dates back to the 18th century. It is thought to be linked to Sir Robert Walpole who was the first Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1721-1742. During his tenure as Prime Minister, Walpole introduced the idea of minting shillings from silver. As these new shillings became commonly known as “Bob”, likely referring to Walpole’s first name.
So in British slang, Bob became a slang term for a shilling. For example:
“It cost me five Bob for that drink at the pub last night.”
This use of Bob is considered quite old-fashioned now and is rarely heard nowadays with the decimalization of British currency in 1971 which replaced shillings. However, it is still sometimes used humorously or for stylistic effect when referring to money from the days when a shilling was common currency.
Bob as a verb meaning to cheat, steal, or swindle
Using Bob as a verb to mean stealing or cheating also has its roots in British history. There was a notorious gang of robbers and highwaymen in the 17th and 18th centuries called the Bobbers. They operated around the Kent and Sussex areas and were notorious for robbing travelers and carriages. It’s believed that their name was shortened to “Bobbers” which led to the slang use of Bob as a verb to mean steal or cheat.
For example:
“That banker totally Bobbed all his clients out of their life savings.”
“Don’t buy that second-hand car, you’ll get Bobbed for sure.”
While not as common today, this meaning of Bob is still used, especially in informal British English to mean being cheated or scammed.
Bob as a noun meaning a pound (unit of currency)
In modern British slang, Bob is also used to refer to a British pound. This is an abbreviation of “bobsy-die” which was slang for a shilling, which was worth 12 old pence. When the decimal monetary system was introduced in 1971, replacing pounds, shillings, and pence, the term bob was transferred over to mean a pound as there were approximately 20 shillings to a pound.
For example:
“It’s payday tomorrow, I can’t wait to get my Bobs!”
“This week’s groceries cost me 50 Bob.”
This slang use of Bob is still widely heard today when referring informally to amounts of British currency.
Bob as a noun meaning a haircut
Bob is also a common British slang term for a short hairstyle cut at the level of the jawline or just below it. This hairstyle became fashionable for women in the 1920s through the influence of famous celebrities of the time like silent film star Louise Brooks who wore the bob haircut.
Over time, bob has become the universally recognized term for this short, often blunt-cut hairstyle in British English. For example:
“I’m thinking of getting a bob haircut for summer.”
“Can you give me a classic bob please?”
“Her bob hairdo really suits her face.”
Bob in this context refers to a classic, short haircut for women that ends around the jawline.
Bob as a noun meaning vomit
In British slang, bob is also used as rhyming slang for vomit. Cockney rhyming slang pairs a word with a rhyming word as a substitution. In this case, Bob pairs with “vomit” to refer to the act of throwing up.
For example:
“I had too many drinks last night and did a big Bob all over the taxi seat!”
“The rollercoaster ride made me Bob.”
“The baby had a tummy bug and was Bobbing all through the night.”
This use of Bob is often considered vulgar slang but is still widely understood especially in London to mean vomiting.
Bob as a noun meaning a pound in weight
In British English slang, a bob can also refer to a pound of weight as a unit of measurement. This likely derives from the slang use of bob to mean a British pound in currency, transferred over to become slang for a pound in weight.
For example:
“This parcel weighs 5 bob at least.”
“I’ve lost nearly half a bob with my new diet.”
While not as common today, this meaning of bob is still occasionally used in informal contexts when referring to a quantity of weight in pounds.
Bob as a noun meaning a police officer or warden
In very informal British English, bob is used as slang for a police officer or a traffic warden. This originated as Cockney rhyming slang with “bob” short for Robert Peeler, in reference to Sir Robert Peel who founded the Metropolitan Police in London in 1829.
For example:
“Watch out, there’s a bob coming this way!”
“I got done for speeding by the bob last week.”
This use of bob refers specifically to police officers or traffic enforcement officers.
Bob as a noun meaning ‘no charge’ or ‘for free’
In British pub slang, people may say they will do something “for Bob” meaning for no charge or for free. This is thought to derive from a pub landlord called Bob who ran a pub and occasionally gave drinks away for free when he was in a good mood.
For example:
“Don’t worry mate, this round’s on Bob.”
“I’ll help you move house for Bob no problem.”
This use of Bob is still widely understood in British pubs and informal settings referring to getting something for no charge.
Bob as a noun meaning a dress rehearsal
In British theatre slang, a bob refers to a dress rehearsal before the actual performance. This dates back to 17th century theatre when rehearsals were referred to as “rehearsals on Bob” – Bob being a term for the props and costumes needed for the performance.
For example:
“The bob went quite well but there are still some line issues.”
“Let’s run through that scene again before the bob tonight.”
Among theatre professionals, bob is still commonly used terminology for a pre-show rehearsal with full props and costumes.
Bob as a noun meaning dessert or candy
In parts of England like Yorkshire, bob is used as slang for sweets or desserts. It is thought to derive from the use of bob to mean a small amount of money combined with the cost of inexpensive candies.
For example:
“Let’s go to the shop and get some bob.”
“Can I get some bob if I eat all my dinner?”
This regional meaning of bob is still widely used in parts of northern England when referring to candy or desserts.
Bob as a verb meaning to cheat or swindle
Bob can also be used as a verb meaning to cheat or swindle someone. This comes from the noun use of bob to mean a swindle or theft.
For example:
“That used car salesman really bobbed me with that lemon of a car!”
“Don’t play cards with Harry, he’ll try and bob you for sure.”
While not as common today, this meaning of bobbing someone is still understood in British informal English.
Bob as a noun referring to a woman’s hair bun
In modern British English, a bob can also refer to a woman’s hairstyle where the hair is wound into a small bun or knot at the nape of the neck. It likely derived from the bob haircut originally only referring to short hair.
For example:
“I pulled my hair up into a bob to keep it out of my face.”
“Can you do a bob that looks elegant but simple?”
“She always wears a neat bob at the office.”
This meaning refers specifically to a hair bun style for women rather than very short hair.
Bob as a noun meaning nonsense or rubbish
Bob can also be used in British slang to mean nonsense, rubbish, or something worthless or of poor quality.
For example:
“Don’t listen to him, he’s talking a load of old bob as usual.”
“This product is just a load of bob and doesn’t work at all.”
This use of bob refers dismissively to something being nonsense or worthless.
Conclusion
Bob is a versatile slang term in British English with a variety of meanings depending on the context. Some common meanings include a shilling, a pound in currency or weight, a police officer, stealing or cheating, a haircut, vomit, dessert, and nonsense. The myriad uses of bob in British slang reflect its colorful evolution over centuries of use in Britain. While some meanings are obscure or old-fashioned now, bob is still widely used in modern British slang today.
