Where Does The Phrase 'going Dutch' Originate? | Notes And Queries

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Edmond Jones , London, UK

• In US English at least, "Dutch" was used as a adjective that means "false". For example, "dutch courage"- courage from drinking liquor (no real courage), "dutch metal"- imitation gold made mostly of copper, "Dutch nightingale"- a frog; "Dutch concert" - an unmusical racket, "Dutch auction" - auction stating at maximum price. Therefore, "Dutch treat" means no treat at all. Note that in the US, "Dutch" was historically used to designate Germans as well as Dutch, as in "Pennsylvania Dutch"

  Dave Null, Claremont, CA, USA

• As far as I know the phrase started with the, successful, British campaign to throw the Catholic, Spanish army out of Protestant Holland. Soldiers having a drink the night before a battle "went Dutch" to avoid being in debt to a colleague if they were killed in the subsequent battle. Similarly, a drink before a battle would also provide a measure of "Dutch courage".

  John Dodds, Gifford, UK

• Back in the 17th century the intense rivalry between the British and the Dutch, both countries fighting to build their global empires, led to many phrases being coined by the British navy to insult their Dutch counterparts. Dutch-courage: implied that the Dutch needed a few drinks inside them to have the stomach required for a fight. Dutch defence: retreat, rather than fight. The phrase "going Dutch", where a couple each pays for their own half of a restaurant bill implies "cheap", basically.

  Gareth Graham, Bristol, UK

• For a more enlightened answer check Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable but it's something like this. At one point in time or another Britain and Holland weren't too pally and they were the source of derogatory terminolgy. In the age of chivalry a man paid for the woman's dinner and to 'go Dutch' was to do it how 'they' did it: incorrectly. Double Dutch also derives from the same era, Dutch seeming a strange and convoluted language hence Double Dutch meaning indescernible, mad and generally all round not on foreign speak.

  Dean Holdsworth, Rovereto, Italy

• There are many phrases that include the word: 'Dutch', such as Dutch uncle and Dutch courage. They probably entered English at the time of the eastern trade route rivalry. To 'go Dutch' is a a contraction of 'In the Dutch fashion', meaning, 'To pay ones share'. Which seems to have been a natural response of traders from a small nation state being patronised by those of a larger neighbour.

  Peter Brooke, By Kinmuck, Scotland

• Holland has always had the custom of people being treated as equals. Therefore if two people go out for a meal and they both have an enjoyable experience they both pay half.

  John Dutch, Horley, England

• Double Dutch. The phrasing to go dutch means to double up, pay doubley for the bill....

  Jenna Beatrup, Halesowen, UK

• Interestingly in Brussels "manger à l'hollandaise" or "manger à la flamande" means the same thing in terms of splitting the bill between everyone present. This may have more to do with the reputation of the Dutch and Flemish being tight with their money (among the French speakers at least) than with the English phrase.

  Chris Bourne, Brussels, Belgium

• In the 15th century, the anabaptist (now recognized as baptist) were not tolerated in the majority Protestant Germany. Due to their feelings on baptism and communion, they were persecuted and sometimes put to death because they wouldn't baptize infants. At that time, the term "we should go Dutch" referred to their fleeing to Holland where their belief and practices were more tolerated. Therefore "Going Dutch" meant going the easy way.

  John Blanks, Nashville United States