Reader Opinions
Mark Woods – (Dutch uncle) August 26, 2025
Have you heard of the Pennsylvania Dutch? This term actually refers to people of German descent who settled in Pennsylvania. The word “Deutsch” means German and “Deutschland” means Germany. So, it’s possible the word “Deutsch” was bent into “Dutch” when the English coined the term “Dutch uncle”. This said, people from the Netherlands (a.k.a., the Dutch) and people from Germany are both known for speaking candidly.
Ivan Law – (24/7 (twenty-four-seven)) August 10, 2025
Ivan Law said in His 1986 Demo song Drop The Beat:
“24/7 all Rappers stalking you haven’t had the rest till you tried the rest.”
Marilyn Crosbie – (like a chicken with its head cut off) July 31, 2025
I always heard running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
Anonymous – (beyond the veil) July 28, 2025
The Grand Temple and Its Mysterious Curtain
Imagine a magnificent, ancient Temple, grand and awe-inspiring, built a very long time ago. Inside this sacred building was a very special, very thick curtain. It wasn’t just any curtain; it was called the veil, and it had a hugely important job. This veil separated two different parts of the Temple, acting like a giant, holy wall between people and what was considered the most sacred, direct presence of God. It was a powerful symbol, showing that there was a big distance between humans and the divine.
Behind the Sacred Veil: The Holiest Place
What was hidden behind this thick veil?
This was the Holy of Holies, known as the Most Holy Place. People believed this tiny room was the most sacred spot on Earth, the very place where God’s presence lived among His people. Inside, you’d find a special golden chest called the Ark of the Covenant. This Ark held incredibly important things, like the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. Above the Ark, between the golden statues of angel-like figures (called cherubim), was where God’s presence was said to truly dwell.
Only one person was ever allowed to enter this super holy room, and that was the High Priest. And even he could only go in once a year, on a very special day called the Day of Atonement, to offer sacrifices for everyone’s mistakes. This strict rule showed just how incredibly holy God was, and how human imperfections created a separation from Him.
What Was in Front of the Veil?
In front of the huge veil was another important section called the Holy Place. This part of the Temple was where the other priests worked every day. They would perform daily rituals, like burning special incense on an altar. While this area was also considered holy, it wasn’t as sacred as the Holy of Holies. It was more like a bridge between the outside world and God’s inner presence. Most ordinary people stayed even further back, in the outer parts of the Temple. So, you can see how the veil physically and symbolically stopped everyone, even most priests, from getting close to God’s immediate presence.
The Moment the Veil Tore
Then, something incredible and truly profound happened. At a specific, pivotal moment in history, as ancient writings tell us, the magnificent veil in the Temple was torn in two. It didn’t rip from the bottom up by human hands; it ripped straight down from the very top to the very bottom, as if by an unseen, mighty force. This wasn’t destruction; it was a miraculous act from the divine, carrying immense symbolic meaning.
The Idioms – (face to face) July 25, 2025
@Anonymous
“Face to face” in Exodus 33:11 signifies God’s direct, intimate, and unparalleled communication with Moses, like a friend speaking to a friend, emphasizing clear revelation and Moses’ unique relationship with God, rather than a literal physical sighting of God’s face.
Anonymous – (face to face) July 20, 2025
Exodus 33:11 says face to face.
What does that mean?
The Idioms – (take a leaf out of someone’s book) July 17, 2025
@Cecily Ray
Yes, “take a leaf out of someone’s book” is colloquial, but it can still be used in semi-formal or formal writing, depending on context and tone.
Cecily Ray – (take a leaf out of someone’s book) July 17, 2025
Is this expression colloquial? Can it be used in formal writing?
Philip Brackenhoff – (Dutch uncle) July 6, 2025
Hello Elena,
I stumbled across this article while looking for the origins of this expresssion. Thank you for posting this. It was very helpful. I only have one question about the sentence: “Many other phrases with the word ‘Dutch’ originated in the 17th century when the British and Germans were fighting wars with each other.” Shouldn’t this say the British and the Dutch, rather than the Germans?
Brigitte Goldstein – (break a leg) July 4, 2025
The German usage “Hals und Beinbruch” is derived from the Judendeutsch expression “hasloche und broche” meaning “good luck and blessing.” In modern Hebrew it is hatzlach v’bracha.
