Robert said, "three days and three nights", in Jewish terminology, did not necessarily imply a full period of three actual days and three actual nights as in modern English, but was simply a First Century colloquialism used to cover any part of the first and third days. Philip Adds.. Why not consider the possibility of it being corrupted by 15th century English colloquialism.. ?? We admit of 20th century corruption, what makes the 15th perfect, even though I admit they were of a higher degree of education, they were after all still a long way from the action.