het is de Moriaan gewassen

Dutch

Alternative forms

• het is den Moriaan gewassen (obsolete)

Etymology

Literally, “it is the washing of the Moor”. Probably after Jeremiah 13, 23. Compare English wash the blackamoor white.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɦɛt ɪs də moːriaːn ɣəʋɑsə(n)/

Proverb

het is de Moriaan gewassen

1. (probably offensive) it is a vain effort, it is no use, it is pointless

   Synonym: het is de Moriaan geschuurd