What Does “Dutch treat” mean?
Definition:
The phrase ‘Dutch treat’ refers to a meal or entertainment for which each person pays his or her own expenses.
A similar idiom is ‘going Dutch’.
The origin of the phrase
The origin of the phrase ‘Dutch treat’ or ‘go Dutch’ goes back to the 17th century when England and the Netherlands were rivals and fought constantly over trade routes and political boundaries. The phrase has a negative meaning, suggesting that the Dutch were stingy. Hence the fact that the phrases ‘Dutch treat’ and ‘going Dutch’ imply that everyone has to pay his due.
Example(s)
It is exasperating to try to figure out who owes what for a Dutch treat dinner.
Some women prefer a dutch treat dinner on a first date.
This idiom is in the nationalities category.
