PhrasesHub

Dutch courage

    Definitions

      • courage through alcohol
        To describe the false sense of bravery or boldness that can come from drinking alcohol, often used in a derogatory manner to imply that the individual is only brave because of their intoxicated state.

      • false confidence
        Can also be used to describe someone who is overly confident or arrogant, often due to a lack of self-awareness or understanding of their true abilities or limitations.

    Examples of Dutch courage

    • John downed a few drinks before going on stage, giving him Dutch courage to face the crowd.

      Dutch courage refers to the temporary boost of confidence that comes from drinking alcohol. The origin of this idiom is unclear, but it may have originated from the Dutch soldiers who drank heavily before going into battle during the Eighty Years' War between the Netherlands and Spain.

    • After a long day at work, Sarah had Dutch courage to confront her boss about her salary.

      Here, Dutch courage is used to describe the newfound confidence Sarah has after drinking alcohol, which allows her to confront her boss about her salary.

    • The singer took a shot of whiskey before going on stage, giving him Dutch courage to hit the high notes.

      In this example, Dutch courage is used to describe the temporary boost of confidence that the singer experiences after drinking alcohol, which helps him to perform at his best.

    • After a few drinks, Tom had Dutch courage to ask out his crush.

      Here, Dutch courage is used to describe the temporary boost of confidence that Tom experiences after drinking alcohol, which allows him to ask out his crush.

    • The athlete had Dutch courage to compete in the race despite his injury.

      In this example, Dutch courage is used metaphorically to describe the athlete's determination and courage to compete in the race despite his injury. The use of Dutch courage in this context highlights the athlete's inner strength and resilience.


    Conclusion

    In summary, the idiom "Dutch courage" is used to describe both the misguided bravery that comes from consuming alcohol and the false confidence of someone who is unaware of their own limitations.

    Origin of "Dutch courage"

    The origin of the idiom "Dutch courage" is believed to come from the 17th and 18th century, when the Netherlands (also known as Holland) and England were engaged in several wars. It was during this time that gin, a strong alcoholic drink, became popular in England. The stereotype emerged that Dutch soldiers would drink gin before battle to give them courage, leading to the phrase "Dutch courage."

    Over time, the phrase became more widely used to describe any situation where alcohol was used to gain courage or confidence. It has also been suggested that the phrase may have originated from the Dutch phrase "doetje moed," which translates to "liquid courage."

    Examples of the idiom "Dutch courage" can be found in literature and media throughout history. In Shakespeare's play "Macbeth," the character Macbeth says, "I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none," after consuming alcohol to gain courage. In modern times, the phrase is often used in a derogatory manner to mock someone who is acting overly confident or brave while under the influence of alcohol.