het is de Moriaan gewassen
Dutch edit
Alternative forms edit
- het is den Moriaan gewassen (obsolete)
Etymology edit
Literally, “it is the washing of the Moor”. Probably after Jeremiah 13, 23. Compare English wash the blackamoor white.
Pronunciation edit
Proverb edit
- (probably offensive) it is a vain effort, it is no use, it is pointless
- Synonym: het is de Moriaan geschuurd