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Dutch Uncle

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I will talk to you like a Dutch uncle. Will reprove you smartly. Uncle is the Latin notion of patʹruus, “an uncle,” “severe guardian,” or “stern castigator.” Hence Horace, 3 Od. xii. 3, “Metuentes patruæ verbera linguæ” (dreading the castigations of an uncle’s tongue); and 2 Sat. iii. 88, “Ne sis patruus mihi” (Donʹt come the uncle over me).

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Dutch Auction
Dutch Clocks
Dutch Comfort
Dutch Concert
Dutch Courage
Dutch Gleek
Dutch Gold
Dutch Nightingales
Dutch School
Dutch Toys
Dutch Uncle
Dutchman
Duty
Duumvirs
Dwarf (The)
Dwarf Alberich (in the Nibelungen Lied)
Dwarf Peter (das Peter Manchen)
Dwarfs (under three feet in height)
Dwile, or Dwyel
Dwt
Dyed Beards