VOOZH about

URL: https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/dutch-courage.40153/

⇱ Dutch courage | WordReference Forums

Menu
Install the app
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.

Dutch courage

La Bionda

Senior Member
German (Living in England)
Ciao tutti

Is there a similar expression in Italian that indicates the English 'Dutch courage'? Just interested to know because I want to say in an Email 'I think I will need some Dutch courage to perform this!' 👁 Big Grin :D


Ciao!
Hi,
from Garzanti:
Dutch Courage, (fam.) coraggio effimero (dato dall'alcool)

that is:
courage artificially stimulated by drink;
pensandoci bene credo che possa tradursi così
I think I will need some Dutch courage to perform this! - penso che avrò bisogno di un'iniezione di coraggio per farlo
Alfry said:
pensandoci bene credo che possa tradursi così
I think I will need some Dutch courage to perform this! - penso che avrò bisogno di un'iniezione di coraggio per farlo

Non sono d'accordo con questa traduzione. Non rappresenta ninete del fatto che il coraggio viene dall' alcool. Pero' rendere Dutch courage in italiano e' ub bel problema. Che ne pensate di penso che avro` bisogno di un po' di coraggio da Bacco per farlo?
Che ne direste del classico "Certo che mi ci vorrà un coraggio civile per farlo!"?

La traduzione non è esatta, ma forse potrebbe rendere l'idea. O forse no... 👁 Big Grin :D
W.
Manuel_M said:
Non sono d'accordo con questa traduzione. Non rappresenta ninete del fatto che il coraggio viene dall' alcool. Pero' rendere Dutch courage in italiano e' ub bel problema. Che ne pensate di penso che avro` bisogno di un po' di coraggio da Bacco per farlo?

I'm thinking...
Vitt52
Dear La Bionda

I found maybe the best translation for "Dutch courage " , it is "incoscienza"
"Ci vuole una bella incoscienza per fare questa cosa"
By the way... why "dutch" ? Where this expression comes from? Are dutchmen so drunk usually?👁 Big Grin :D

Vitt52
Vitt,

You'll probably find a number of theories about the origin of the expression. One I remember raeding some years back was that during the time of the English-Dutch wars of the 16th and 17th centuries, the English sailors used to be given rum to drink before engagaing in sea-battles with the Dutch.
Manuel_M said:
Vitt,

You'll probably find a number of theories about the origin of the expression. One I remember raeding some years back was that during the time of the English-Dutch wars of the 16th and 17th centuries, the English sailors used to be given rum to drink before engagaing in sea-battles with the Dutch.

Thank you Manuel...
but if the drunk sailors where the english ones , then it should be an "english courage" 👁 Big Grin :D

Vitt52
"Dutch courage" comes from 17th-century New York City, formerly New Amsterdam. The British who took the place over had many derogatory terms for the former population-- the NY basketball team the "Nicks" were originally named "Knickerbockers," a pejorative reference to the fact that to the English-speaking ear, the Dutch had "funny names."

"Dutch uncle" was originally derogatory, and a "Dutch rub" is the obnoxious greeting you give a small child when you get his head in an armlock and rake his scalp with your knuckles.

I have roots in the Dutch-American community, and can tell you that we by no means "drink more" than the English, in the sense that implies inebriation. More in quantity, perhaps, but we can hold our liquor infinitely better. So like many derogatory expressions, "Dutch courage" arose from motives of envy.
E dire "coraggio da leone"? E' la sola espressione tipica italiana indicante "una dose particolare di coraggio" "un coraggio particolare" che mi venga in mente!
Non so pero' se abbia lo stesso significato di "Dutch courage!"
walnut said:
Che ne direste del classico "Certo che mi ci vorrà un coraggio civile per farlo!"?
I have never ever heard that expression and we live in the same area 👁 Confused :confused:
It must a slang expression of your neighborhood 👁 Big Grin :D


'I think I will need some Dutch courage to perform this!'
Credo che avrò bisogno di qualche bicchiere per vincere la timidezza!
Credo che avrò bisogno di qualche bicchiere per farmi coraggio!

Or something along those lines 👁 Wink ;)
Silvia said:
I have never ever heard that expression and we live in the same area 👁 Confused :confused:
It must a slang expression of your neighborhood 👁 Big Grin :D

Googling I found 9.420 entries for the main meaning, which refers to the act of taking a public stand on something, which implies a certain courage of the actor.
You're right Silvia, the side meaning I quoted seems to be quite rare; let me specify it's probably more snobish that slangy 👁 Wink ;)
: as you now I'm very interested in slang and dialectal or "rare" words, but I only heard this expression in educated contexts.

👁 Smile :)
W.
As my own mother tongue (as far as I know) doesn't have an equivalent of the above, I am unable to figure out what is meant by it..👁 Smile :)
I figure that the answer has to do with the innate nature of dutch people, but I do not know so many dutch peolple, so..
Dutch courage means the false sense of courage and bravery that you get from drinking alcohol.

I think it has less to do with the innate nature of the Dutch and more to do with stereotypes and prejudices, but I don't know the origin of the phrase.

Si dice "coraggio olandese" anche in italiano? Non lo sapevo!
Coraggio olandese c'è sul dizionario che ho consultato... Grazie per le risposte!
Back
Top Bottom