dutch uncle
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A personage often introduced in conversation, but exceedingly difficult to describe; "I’ll talk to him like a DUTCH UNCLE!" conveys the notion of anything but a desirable relation.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “dutch uncle” mean?
A personage often introduced in conversation, but exceedingly difficult to describe; "I’ll talk to him like a DUTCH UNCLE!" conveys the notion of anything but a desirable relation.
Is “dutch uncle” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.