Uncle Tom Cobley and all
1 of 1phrase/ˈʌŋkəl tɑm ˈkɑbli ænd ɔl/
1
used for referring to a list of people or items that is frustratingly long
The idiom "Uncle Tom Cobley and all" originates from the English folk ballad "Widdicombe Fair." This traditional song tells the story of a journey to the village fair in Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Devon, England. In the song, a long list of characters is mentioned, with Uncle Tom Cobley usually being the last name on the list. This expression is used to humorously refer to a large or diverse group of people or things. It is often employed to emphasize inclusivity or to indicate an exhaustive list.
- Everyone from the Prime Minister, to the Governor of the Bank of England, to the Mayor of London, to the Director of the IMF, to Uncle Tom Cobley and all convinced us that we needed these austerity measures to survive the recession.
- It seems clear that a compromise, half-way solution had equally been ruled out by Government, Opposition, economists, press, TV, Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all.
- I invited the entire neighborhood to the barbecue—Uncle Tom Cobley and all!
- The company's new product launch was attended by journalists, influencers, and Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
- They've invited politicians, business leaders, celebrities, and Uncle Tom Cobley and all to their gala event.