Dutch Courage

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Meaning:

Dutch Courage or liquid courage means confidence gained from being drunk.

Origin:

This saying has some interesting history, some say that This term dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when England and the Dutch Republic were at war. During this time of hostility, the British coined several phrases that used “Dutch” as an insult.

However, research shows that the expression came into use in the early 19th century (after the end of the Anglo-Dutch wars) and was most commonly used by sailors.

The first example of the expression in print is this piece from the London Courier and Evening Gazette, June 1814:

“The next day, when La Pique's crew were to receive their daily allowance of grog, every man threw it overboard, declaring, that they did not require Dutch courage to engage a Yankee.”

Example:

Today you can still hear Dutch courage being used in the UK and parts of Europe, in America they use the term Liquid Courage. An example sentence is:

“I'm planning on proposing to Mary tonight, but I think I need a little Dutch courage first!”

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