Why are we so tough on the Dutch?
I was recently having dinner with some friends including a woman from The Netherlands. I commented that it was strange that the English language contains so many words and phrases that make unkind reference to the Dutch. After all, the Dutch are known for being affable, tolerant, and English speakers. My Dutch friend was surprised to hear this and the British colleagues present appeared to doubt my assertion. So consider these terms – not all actively in use today – which are present in the English vocabulary:
- Dutch courage = that brought about by drink
- Dutch treat = a social event where everyone pays for themselves
- To go Dutch = when you pay for yourself
- Dutch feast = one where the host gets drunk before the guests
- Dutch comfort = cold comfort
- Dutchman’s draught = a big swig of alcohol
- Dutch bargain = one settled over drinks
- Dutch auction = one in which the price progressively declines
- Dutch concert = a great noise and uproar like that made by drunken Dutchmen
- Dutch defence = a sham defence
- Dutch gold = an alloy of copper and zinc
- Dutch nightingales = frogs
- Dutch talent = more the result of brawn than brain
- In Dutch = in trouble
- To talk double Dutch = to speak rubbish
- To talk like a Dutch uncle = to reprimand
- Dutch have taken Holland = statement of the well known as if it is wonderful news
- I’m a Dutchman if I do = a strong refusal
- If not, I’m a Dutchman = used to strengthen an assertion
- Well, I’m a Dutchman = an exclamation of strong incredulity
The origin of all these derogatory terms is the Anglo-Dutch war of the 17th century. Ironically England has historically spent far longer in conflict with the French, but there are nowhere near as many unkind terms referring to them.
May 14th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
I’ve not heard of many of those, but I don’t see some of them as derogatory either.
Dutch courage isn’t particularly derogatory, nor is to go dutch. Dutch auction is not at all derogatory (merely factual – or at least how their tulip auctions are held).
So I contend that Double Dutch is the only common term that is derogatory. The rest are either not derogatory or not in common use.
May 15th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Thanks for the explanation of the term ‘Dutch auction’.
I accept that many of these terms are not in active use today, but all of them were in common usage for many, many years and all of them can still be found in “Brewer’s Dictionary Of Phrase And Fable”.
I’m surprised that you think many are not negative. Try substituting ‘English’ for ‘Dutch’ in these expressions e.g. English courage, English feast, English concert, well I’m an Englishman.
September 15th, 2009 at 8:33 am
I’m Dutch and I have heard most of those expressions (in their negative context)
Have a look at the Anglo Dutch wars (the first three – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Dutch_Wars).
But long story short, it was English jealousy of the Dutch, being better for about 100 years in nearly everything they wanted: superior navy, trade, colonies and being considerably richer than they were (made worse as those pesky Dutch were able to defend that wealth most of the time as well).
As for the French, even though the English have been at war with them for longer and more often, France and England were two different types of ’empire’. France focussed on continental control (thus army) and the English on maritime power (hence the conflicts with the Dutch). The English have in various degrees been very successful at checking the French for this dominance and get a sense of pride from this.
Aside from a few attempts by France of invading the British Isles, the Dutch naval dominance was much more of a threat to English interests then the French grab for power on the continent.
The English pride themselves for maritime exploits, however they were outclassed for a significant amount of time. I believe it’s this ‘hurt’ that caused the multitude of English expressions with Dutch in it.
P.S. My apologies to the Welsh and Scots, but the in most non British countries England and Britain are interchangeable, even though I am aware of the differences.
December 27th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Double Dutch actually is a language game, also called Tutnese, usually used by children, who use it to converse in privacy from adults (or vice versa), or simply for amusement and humor.
In it, vowels are pronounced normally, but each consonant is replaced with an alternate syllable (e.g. b replaced with buv).