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advice

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a free bit of advice

A suggestion, opinion, or piece of advice that was unrequested or unsolicited by the recipient. Allow me to give you a free bit of advice, my friend: don't say something you'll end up regretting later.

See also: advice, bit, free, of

Dutch uncle

a man who gives frank and direct advice to someone. (In the way an uncle might, but not a real relative.) I would not have to lecture you like a Dutch uncle if you were not so extravagant. He acts more like a Dutch uncle than a husband. He's forever telling her what to do in public.

See also: Dutch, uncle

Nothing is given so freely as advice.

Prov. People will give you advice more willingly than they give you anything else. Although no one in my family was willing to give me a loan, they all had suggestions about how I could get the money from elsewhere. Nothing is given so freely as advice. Don't hesitate to ask people what they think you ought to do. Nothing is given so freely as advice.

See also: advice, freely, given, nothing

sage advice

very good and wise advice. My parents gave me some sage advice when I turned 18. I asked my uncle for some of his sage advice.

See also: advice

Dutch uncle

A stern, candid critic or adviser, as in When I got in trouble with the teacher again, the principal talked to me like a Dutch uncle . This expression, often put as talk to one like a Dutch uncle, presumably alludes to the sternness and sobriety attributed to the Dutch. [Early 1800s]

See also: Dutch, uncle