Dutch courage en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
This dates back to a time of intense political rivalry between England and the Netherlands, and was originally an ethnic slur.
Meanings
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(idiomatic, uncountable) The courage or bravado induced by alcohol.
I was beginning to wish I'd had the sense to spend the last hour in a pub. Dutch courage would have been better than no courage at all.
2010, Minette Walters, The Shape of Snakes, Pan Macmillan, →ISBN:
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(idiomatic, uncountable) An alcoholic drink, taken to bolster one's courage.
Another five minutes wait and we finally raise glasses in a toast to the evening. ‘So, what's the plan?’ ‘Well, we can go straight to the casino after this or we can get half a skinful of Dutch courage.’
2015, R.A. Barnes, Peril: A Ger Mayes Crime Novel, Marble City Publishing, →ISBN:
Synonyms
Translations (5)
fi humalaisen rohkeus (courage induced by alcohol) · gd misneachd òil (courage induced by alcohol) · fi rohkaisuryyppy (alcoholic drink) · nl dronkenmansmoed (courage induced by alcohol) · nl jenevermoed (courage induced by alcohol)