Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

dutch uncle

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.13 in modern English

Syllables: dutch un-cle
IPA

18

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

One who reproves or advises in a blunt, stern but often kindly manner, intended for the benefit of the recipient.

Example Sentences

"Gruff but kindly, with dark-rimmed glasses prone to slip down his prominent ruddy nose and an unlit cigar habitually clenched in his teeth, he was everyone's Dutch uncle and let even strangers call him “Maggie” to his face."
"I talked like a Dutch uncle to convince them they would be in the way if they came out too."
"The accountant was an older guy named Barney who always played the role of Dutch uncle to Michael's high flying ways, but on this occasion he read him the riot act."

Etymology

From 1838.

Inflected Forms

Dutch uncles (plural)

Questions

What does dutch uncle mean?: One who reproves or advises in a blunt, stern but often kindly manner, intended for the benefit of the recipient.
Where does dutch uncle come from?: From 1838.

How to pronounce dutch uncle

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