Does Dutch have another meaning that is not a country?
2006-10-25 12:52:22 · 3 answers · asked by tiafromtijuana 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The Dutch (citizens of The Netherlands) have a stereotypic reputation for being very frugal.
For example, joke: How was copper wire invented? Two Dutch men were fighting over a penny.
A "Dutch treat" is where each person pays his/her own way.
2006-10-25 14:59:45 · answer #1 · answered by pat z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dear Evan: I am curious about the history of the phrase "going dutch." -- Gary Zimmerman, via the Internet.
I'm going to hazard a guess that what you're asking about is the phrase "Dutch treat," meaning "no treat at all because each person pays his or her own check." "Dutch treat" is a linguistic relic of a low point in relations between England and The Netherlands. Back in the 17th century, when both countries were building their global empires, their intense rivalry found an outlet in a wide range of popular sayings invented by each country to insult the other. Since we are primarily an English-speaking culture, the few phrases that have survived are, inevitably, those disparaging the Dutch, but even those are rarely heard today.
According to Hugh Rawson, who explores such topics at length in his wonderful book "Wicked Words" (Crown Publishers), many of the English anti-Dutch terms became popular in the U.S. because of confusion with the word "Deutsch," or German, and were often applied to German immigrants. For the connoisseurs of insults among us, Mr. Rawson lists more than two pages of anti-Dutch slurs once popular.
Along with "Dutch treat," which originally implied "cheap," other insults once popular included "Dutch courage" (liquor), "Dutch defense" (a retreat), "Dutch headache" (a hangover), "Do a Dutch" (commit suicide), "Dutch concert" (a drunken uproar), and "Dutch nightingale" (a frog, which seems an especially low blow).
"Dutch treat" has long since lost its original sting, and today "pay your own way" seems to be standard practice among those who date.
2006-10-25 13:06:52 · answer #2 · answered by macdoodle 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Dutch people, who suffered from a lot of slings and arrows of persecution.
Dutch Courage (drinking booze until you are drunk)
Dutch Bargain (a deal made while drunk)
Dutch Uncle (a very scolding and mean relative)
Not a way you want to be remembered
2006-10-25 12:59:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋