skip to content skip to search skip to navigation Listen Live skip to logon

Why do we call it Dutch courage?

Question

When you’re nervous and you have a drink, it’s called “Dutch courage”. Why is that?
Philip, Abbey Wood

Answer

** Definitive **
Name: Tyrone, Cuffley
Qualification: A Dutch skipper told me this recently
Answer: It came from the plague of London. The only ships sailing up the Thames and supplying us with food and drink were from the Netherlands.
(James O’Brien: Good answer. But why does that now refer to alcohol?)

In this Section