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 a blackamoor white. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɦɛt ɪs də moːriaːn ɣəʋɑsə(n)/ === Proverb === het is de Moriaan gewassen (probably offensive) it is a vain effort, it is no use, it is pointless Synonym: het is de Moriaan geschuurd