Going Dutch is when each person pays for their own expenses during a planned date or outing, often agreed upon in advance to avoid confusion. It can be a way to level the financial playing field and allow larger groups to enjoy a night out without one person footing the bill. However, it may not be well-received in romantic dating situations. The phrase originated from a derogatory British term for the Dutch, but has evolved into recognized social jargon.
Going Dutch, also known as the Dutch treatment or Dutch dating, involves an informal agreement for each person to pay for their own expenses during a planned date or outing. The decision to do so is usually made in advance to avoid any confusion when the bill arrives or when purchasing tickets. Under certain social and financial circumstances, the idea allows larger groups of friends or colleagues to enjoy a night on the town without the worry of a host footing the full bill. During a romantic date situation, however, the suggestion that you go Dutch may not be as well received.
Many people agree to go Dutch as a discreet way to level the financial playing field. A friend may feel uneasy with the idea of another friend in better financial shape always footing the bill. When two or more people agree to pay their bills, each is free to spend within their personal entertainment budget. Even if one person can afford to order the most expensive item on the menu, the rest of the group doesn’t have to spend outside their limits.
When it comes to social dating, however, the idea of going Dutch isn’t universally accepted. Traditionally, the person inviting a companion for dinner or other entertainment is obligated to collect the entire ballot. Modern dating etiquette now allows women to assume the same role as men when it comes to funding a date, but there is still a clear divide between the inviter and the invitee. Some couples, however, are very comfortable with the decision to go Dutch, especially during casual first dates. By agreeing on a Dutch date, neither party feels romantically obligated or indebted to the other party for paying the full bill.
The origin of the phrase can be traced back to a time when England and the Netherlands were constantly fighting over trade routes and political borders during the 17th century. The British used the term Dutch in a number of derogatory or demeaning ways, including Dutch courage (courage through alcohol) and Dutch treatment, which was actually no treatment at all. The Dutch were said to be very stingy with their wealth, almost stingy.
While many of these derogatory Dutch references have fallen out of common usage, Americans retained the idea of ”Dutch treatment” as a number of German (German) immigrants arrived. A corruption of German has led to the designation of German immigrants living in Pennsylvania as “Pennsylvania Dutch”. Even though the original British slur was against present-day Dutch, some Americans have perpetuated the negative connotation of “Dutch treatment” to include German Dutch as well.
The modern idea of becoming Dutch no longer carries the stigma of the term’s original intentions. It’s simply a bit of recognized social jargon that lets each party know the financial provisions of a date or social outing.
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