A 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
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:
These colorful (though now incongruous) phrases became part of English usage worldwide, and some are still in use.
Alternative explanations
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. 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." 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."
Dutch Uncle is a play by Simon Gray set in a "living room in a decaying house in Shepherd's Bush" in 1952. It features Mr Godboy, whose obsession with the police leads him to go to elaborate lengths to get the attention of the charismatic Inspector Hawkins.
Characters
Mr Godboy
May Godboy
Doris Hoyden
Eric Hoyden
Inspector Hawkins
PC Hedderley
Synopsis
Mr Godboy has bought an enormous wardrobe. He is contractually obliged to provide a wardrobe for his upstairs tenants, Eric and Doris Hoyden, he says, but at present it stands in the living room, much to his wife May's annoyance. Godboy and May are in their fifties but have only been married for two years. May is already at the end of her tether with Godboy, as he spends all his spare time chatting to police at the police station about their latest cases and singing the praises of Inspector Hawkins. He is a trained chiropodist but has failed to get his career going. May and Godboy tell each other that they both have surprises for each other, but won't reveal what they are. May is planning to walk out on her husband that day, while Godboy is planning to trap his wife in the new wardrobe and gas her with a new appliance he has bought. Before any of this can take place, however, Inspector Hawkins comes round unexpectedly, saying that he has heard a lot about Godboy from others at the police station, and as he was in the area conducting an operation he thought he would pop in. He explains that they are trying to catch the ‘Merrick Street attacker’, who has been stealing women's handbags. After he leaves, Godboy manages to lure May into the wardrobe, but as he is hurriedly preparing his gas appliance, she comes out of the wardrobe, packs her bags and leaves, oblivious to what Godboy has planned. Godboy then locks the wardrobe and pumps it full of gas.
7 whole days. 7 whole nights. I can't wait to get you by my side so you can-touch me Oh how I need you so much. My body calls out please come and touch me. Too long since I've had some I need to feel your touch. Carving your touch... Saving my love for the next time I'm yours-you're mine. Baby, we'll be exciting when we meet up that night, two sparks ignite. It's funny how a week seems like eternity. I want to feel you near. Can you get here? Oh how I need you so much. My body calls out please come and touch me. Too long since I've had some I need to feel your touch. Can't wait 'till we're skin on skin. Face to face and heartbeats racing. Subway, taxi, airplane or limousine. Pick one oh anyone. Come see about me. It's funny how a week semms like eternity. I want to feel you near. Can yu get here? Oh how I need you so much. My body calls out please come and touch me. Too long since I've had some I need to feel your touch. A phone call won't do...no! I need much more than just to hear from you. Sleeping by myself, it just ain't cool. No.. My body's aching baby and the cure is you. Oh how I need you so much. My body calls out please come and touch me. Too long since I've had some I need to feel your touch. Oh how I need you so much. My body calls out please come and touch me. Too long since I've had some I need to feel your touch. It's been too long. It feels like eternity. I need to feel you baby.
Arturo’s relatives were delighted to learn that their beloved great uncle had not been forgotten.Spoons with a secret ...It’s not just any coin, they’re Dutch guilders.’ ... Willems explained that when Dutch ...
Instagram/Rita Greyling/JPNL ... She said ... Str/AP ... Since his release, he has been living under strict parole conditions with his uncle, Arnold Pistorius, in the upmarket Pretoria suburb of Waterkloof and doing volunteer work at a DutchReformed Church ... .
Since his release on parole, he has been living in a cottage on his uncle Arnold Pistorius’s property and volunteering at a nearby DutchReformChurch... and volunteers at a Dutch Reform Church nearby.
... release into his rich uncle's care ... Pistorius is living in a cottage in the grounds of his multi-millionaire uncle Arnold's secure mansion and is doing volunteer work at a DutchReformChurch nearby.
... release into his rich uncle's care ... Pistorius is living in a cottage in the grounds of his multi-millionaire uncle Arnold's secure mansion and is doing volunteer work at a DutchReformChurch nearby.
... into his rich uncle's care ... Pistorius is now living in a cottage in the grounds of his multi-millionaire uncle Arnold's secure mansion and is doing volunteer work at a DutchReformChurch nearby.
... Reed (Courtney) Reuman; grandchildren Dutch, Brooks, Kirbi, Kinsley, and Clyde; Brother, Craig (Jody) Reuman, as well as numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members.
In September 1940 the Dutch... His father was an amateur artist of some merit, and his uncle, Frits Mondriaan, an established painter in a traditional style whose work was well known in Dutch art circles.
UCF Knights football. Gus Malzahn talks pressure on Shedeur Sanders ... “It’s my fault,” he’d say ... Then the face-to-face after the offending quarterback came to the sideline — the face-to-face dynamic fell somewhere between Dutch Uncle and George Patton ... 1.
Never-Trumpers are clear-eyed in a way that many Democrats are not. We are sort of the Dutch uncles of American politics. For us, there is one goal ... If Joe Biden is useful in achieving that, we’re all for him ... So let’s rip off the scab ... Bush ... He has to go.
Tomorrow, England will look to keep lumbering 6ft6in striker Wout Weghorst quiet when they face him and Dutch teammates in the semi-final of Euro 2024 ... And, somewhat predictably, Del Boy, Rodney and Uncle Albert's trip was not a success.
“We’ve been blown away by all the love and support,” Ethan’s DonutFactory said in a statement ... They were beautiful!” ... “Previously, my friends and I used to have to drive over half an hour away to go to Dutch Uncle Donuts” in Coldwater, Sherman said.
Not even maintenance is OK in the eyes of the Uncle Sam Under US pressure, Dutch photolithography giant ASML will no longer service certain chipmaking equipment purchased by Chinese customers ... .
