Uncle Tom Cobley
The phrase Uncle Tom Cobley and all is used in British English as a humorous or whimsical way of saying et al., often to express exasperation at the large number of people in a list. The phrase comes from a Devon folk song "Widecombe Fair", collected by Sabine Baring-Gould. Its chorus ends with a long list of people: "Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all." The surname is spelt as "Cobleigh" in some references.
Read more about Uncle Tom Cobley: The Historical Tom Cobley, Scientific Papers, Other Occurrences, The Song Lyrics, in Full
Famous quotes containing the words uncle and/or tom:
“Grace me no grace, nor uncle me no uncle;
I am no traitor’s uncle, and that word “grace”
In an ungracious mouth is but profane.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
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