Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

job's a good 'un

/ˌdʒɒbz ə ˈɡʊd(ə)n/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.60 in modern English

Syllables
job's a -good 'un
IPA
/ˌdʒɒbz ə ˈɡʊd(ə)n/
22
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
2
Syllables
9
Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

Expresses satisfaction that a task has been or will be carried out successfully, often suggesting that the task is simple, or ironically implying that it has been completed in a cursory or slapdash manner.

Australian usage; New Zealand usage; British usage; Colloquial

Example Sentences

Etymology

Attested in 1968, but probably popularised by footballer Robbie Fowler who, after scoring four goals in a Premier League match against Middlesbrough on 14 December 1996, revealed a T-shirt with the phrase written on it in marker pen. He explained to the press that it was Happy Mondays percussionist Bez's catchphrase in his segment "Science with Bez" on BBC Two's The Sunday Show (1995–97).

Regional Pronunciation

  • British English: /ˌdʒɒbz ə ˈɡʊd(ə)n/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Synonyms

Questions

How do you pronounce job's a good 'un?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˌdʒɒbz ə ˈɡʊd(ə)n/.
What does job's a good 'un mean?
Expresses satisfaction that a task has been or will be carried out successfully, often suggesting that the task is simple, or ironically implying that it has been completed in a cursory or slapdash manner.
Where does job's a good 'un come from?
Attested in 1968, but probably popularised by footballer Robbie Fowler who, after scoring four goals in a Premier League match against Middlesbrough on 14 December 1996, revealed a T-shirt with the phrase written on it in marker pen. He explained to the press that it was Happy Mondays percussionist Bez's catchphrase in his segment "Science with Bez" on BBC Two's The Sunday Show (1995–97).

How to pronounce job's a good 'un

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “job's a good 'un”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌdʒɒbz ə ˈɡʊd(ə)n/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “job's a good 'un”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “job's a good 'un” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.