Meaning
To go Dutch is to have each person pay for their own share, usually of a meal, a movie or a date. Nobody treats anybody. The phrase is centuries old, from a time when English speakers made a lot of jokes about the Dutch, and it has nothing to do with the Netherlands today. People don't hear it as an insult; they hear it as "we each pay".
It is casual and a little old-fashioned, and it shows up most around dating, where who pays can be a delicate question. Offering to go Dutch says "this is equal, no pressure". In everyday American speech you'll also hear "split the check" or "let's each pay for ours". Those are the plainest options with colleagues or in a restaurant with friends.
In a conversation
- Ananya
- Jake
- Ananya
- Jake
- Ananya
- Jake
Say it out loud
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Check yourself
Practice · 3 min
Listen, then say each line. Stress "Dutch", and keep "go" short.
Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.