Dutch uncle: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Slang term}} |
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{{otheruses}} |
{{otheruses}} |
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'''Dutch uncle''' is an informal term for a person who issues frank, harsh or severe comments and criticism to educate, encourage or admonish someone. Thus, a "Dutch uncle" is the reverse of what is normally thought of as avuncular or uncle-like (indulgent and permissive). |
'''Dutch uncle''' is an informal term for a person who issues frank, harsh or severe comments and criticism to educate, encourage or admonish someone. Thus, a "Dutch uncle" is the reverse of what is normally thought of as [[avuncular]] or uncle-like (indulgent and permissive). |
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==Origins== |
==Origins== |
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* [[Dutch courage]] (alcohol-induced bravery) |
* [[Dutch courage]] (alcohol-induced bravery) |
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* Double Dutch (incomprehensible, nonsense) |
* Double Dutch (incomprehensible, nonsense) |
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* [[Dutch wife (disambiguation)|Dutch wife]] ([[prostitute]], [[sex doll]]) |
* [[Dutch wife (disambiguation)|Dutch wife]] ([[prostitute]], [[sex doll]]) |
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* Dutch widow (prostitute) |
* Dutch widow (prostitute) |
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* [[wikt:Dutch comfort|Dutch comfort]] (saying that "Things could be worse!") |
* [[wikt:Dutch comfort|Dutch comfort]] (saying that "Things could be worse!") |
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* [[Dutch metal]] or Dutch gold (cheap alloy resembling gold) |
* [[Dutch metal]] or Dutch gold (cheap alloy resembling gold) |
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* [[Going Dutch|Dutch treat]] (social date where the invited person pays |
* [[Going Dutch|Dutch treat]] (social date where the invited person pays their own share) |
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* Dutch-bottomed (empty) |
* Dutch-bottomed (empty) |
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* Dutch nightingale (frog) |
* Dutch nightingale (frog) |
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These terms also gained prominence in 17th-century [[New England]] during its rivalry with [[New Amsterdam|New Netherland]], which the Dutch captured (and later recaptured) during the [[Second Anglo-Dutch War]]. |
These terms also gained prominence in 17th-century [[New England]] during its rivalry with [[New Amsterdam|New Netherland]], which the Dutch captured (and later recaptured) during the [[Second Anglo-Dutch War]]. |
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These colorful (though now incongruous) phrases became part of English usage worldwide, and some are still in use. |
These colorful (though now incongruous) phrases became part of English usage worldwide, and some are still in use today. |
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==Alternative explanations== |
==Alternative explanations== |
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Another proposed explanation is that the term, often expressed as "talk to one like a Dutch uncle," originated in the early 19th century as an allusion to the sternness and sobriety attributed to the Dutch people. Dutch behaviour is defined in the book ''Culture Shock! Netherlands: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette'' as "practical, direct, outspoken, stubborn, well-organised, blunt and thinking they are always right." According to that source, these are the alleged reasons behind the English term "Dutch uncle."<ref>Janin, Hunt. ''Culture Shock! Netherlands: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette''. {{ISBN|1-55868-948-6}}</ref> Another book that advocates this theory is ''[[The UnDutchables]]'', which assigns comparable characteristics to Dutch people: "not lacking in self-esteem...caught up in a cycle of endless envy...always speak their mind...frank, obstinate, blunt", basically summed up by the phrase "the natives thrive on shaking their fingers at and scolding each other."<ref>White, Colin & Boucke, Laurie. ''The UnDutchables''. {{ISBN|978-1-888580-44-0}}</ref> |
Another proposed explanation is that the term, often expressed as "talk to one like a Dutch uncle," originated in the early 19th century as an allusion to the sternness and sobriety attributed to the Dutch people. Dutch behaviour is defined in the book ''Culture Shock! Netherlands: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette'' as "practical, direct, outspoken, stubborn, well-organised, blunt and thinking they are always right." According to that source, these are the alleged reasons behind the English term "Dutch uncle."<ref>Janin, Hunt. ''Culture Shock! Netherlands: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette''. {{ISBN|1-55868-948-6}}</ref> Another book that advocates this theory is ''[[The UnDutchables]]'', which assigns comparable characteristics to Dutch people: "not lacking in self-esteem ... caught up in a cycle of endless envy ... always speak their mind ... frank, obstinate, blunt", basically summed up by the phrase "the natives thrive on shaking their fingers at and scolding each other."<ref>White, Colin & Boucke, Laurie. ''The UnDutchables''. {{ISBN|978-1-888580-44-0}}</ref> |
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==Footnotes== |
==Footnotes== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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*Bolt, Rodney. ''The Xenophobe's Guide to the Dutch''. {{ISBN|1-902825-25-X}} |
* Bolt, Rodney. ''The Xenophobe's Guide to the Dutch''. {{ISBN|1-902825-25-X}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dutch Uncle}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dutch Uncle}} |
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[[Category:Anti-Dutch sentiment]] |
[[Category:Anti-Dutch sentiment]] |
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[[Category:Etymologies]] |
[[Category:Etymologies]] |
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[[Category:Terms with Dutch]] |
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Latest revision as of 00:00, 4 May 2024
Dutch uncle is an informal term for a person who issues frank, harsh or severe comments and criticism to educate, encourage or admonish someone. Thus, a "Dutch uncle" is the reverse of what is normally thought of as avuncular or uncle-like (indulgent and permissive).
Origins
[edit] |
During the Anglo-Dutch Wars between England and the Netherlands in the 17th century, the English language gained an array of insults (including "Dutch uncle"), such as:
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These terms also gained prominence in 17th-century New England during its rivalry with New Netherland, which the Dutch captured (and later recaptured) during the Second Anglo-Dutch War.
These colorful (though now incongruous) phrases became part of English usage worldwide, and some are still in use today.
Alternative explanations
[edit]Another proposed explanation is that the term, often expressed as "talk to one like a Dutch uncle," originated in the early 19th century as an allusion to the sternness and sobriety attributed to the Dutch people. Dutch behaviour is defined in the book Culture Shock! Netherlands: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette as "practical, direct, outspoken, stubborn, well-organised, blunt and thinking they are always right." According to that source, these are the alleged reasons behind the English term "Dutch uncle."[1] Another book that advocates this theory is The UnDutchables, which assigns comparable characteristics to Dutch people: "not lacking in self-esteem ... caught up in a cycle of endless envy ... always speak their mind ... frank, obstinate, blunt", basically summed up by the phrase "the natives thrive on shaking their fingers at and scolding each other."[2]
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ Janin, Hunt. Culture Shock! Netherlands: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette. ISBN 1-55868-948-6
- ^ White, Colin & Boucke, Laurie. The UnDutchables. ISBN 978-1-888580-44-0
References
[edit]- Bolt, Rodney. The Xenophobe's Guide to the Dutch. ISBN 1-902825-25-X