Bobbsey twins is an American term that dates back to the turn of the twentieth century. We will examine the meaning of the term Bobbsey twins, where the phrase came from and some examples of its use in sentences.
The term Bobbsey twins refers to two people who are inseparable, who are often seen together and look alike and act alike. The term Bobbsey twins is taken from a children’s series of books published from 1904 through 1992, written under the pen name Laura Lee Hope. The books chronicled the lives of the Bobbsey family, including two sets of fraternal twins, ages twelve and six. The term Bobbsey twins took on a figurative sense soon after the publication of the first book, the wholesome stories were easily parodied. Even though the stories are seldom read anymore, the figurative term Bobbsey twins is still occasionally seen. The word twin is derived from the Old English word twinn, which means twofold. Note that the word Bobbsey is capitalized, as it is a proper surname.
Examples
“He thought some of my discipline would rub off on him, so we were like the ‘Bobbsey Twins’,” he softly laughs. (The Chicago Defender)
Also, we’d have to hear pundits call them the “Bobbsey Twins” every time one of them wore a short, bright blue jacket over a black top and pants, while the other wore a monochromatic periwinkle pantsuit with a long, closed jacket, as they did during an electrifying joint appearance in Cincinnati on Monday. (The Guardian)
According to Cuban, even Trump thinks they’re alike—“[He] says we’re like the Bobbsey Twins,” Cuban said—but he wants the comparisons to stop there. (MacWorld Magazine)