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Oct 8, 2010
This week's themeWords about relations This week's words nepotism cozen avuncular cater-cousin Dutch uncle This week's comments AWADmail 432 Next week's theme Words about color 
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with Anu GargDutch uncle
PRONUNCIATION:
(duch UNG-kuhl)
MEANING:
noun:
Someone who advises or criticizes frankly and sternly.
ETYMOLOGY:
The English and the Dutch fought in many wars during the 17th and 18th
century. Even though they are friendly with each other now, the English language
still carries traces of the past animosity, demeaning the Dutch: from Dutch
treat (where each must pay his or her own share), Dutch gold (imitation gold),
Dutch courage (courage inspired by liquor), and so on. A Dutch uncle is the
opposite of a typical uncle (kind and indulgent), he's not avuncular.
You can be sure, he doesn't believe in nepotism.
USAGE:
"George Perry is the Dutch uncle some parents wished they could send their
son to -- if the boy needed some straight talk."Rayne Wolfe; Lessons & Lambs; Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California); Jul 29, 2008. See more usage examples of Dutch uncle in Vocabulary.com's dictionary. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Nothing contributes more to peace of soul than having no opinion at all. -Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, scientist and philosopher (1742-1799)
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