Going Dutch.
A Dutch guest at a friends daughters wedding.
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The Dutch connection made me think about the phrase "going Dutch" and the fact that I had no idea were the saying came from; so here is a little information.
"Going Dutch" is a term that indicates that each person participating in a group activity pays for themselves, rather than any person paying for anyone else, particularly in a restaurant bill. It is also called Dutch date, Dutch treat and "doing Dutch".
In Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, the practice of splitting the bill in restaurants is common. In a courtship situation where both parties have a similar financial standing, the traditional custom of the man always paying in restaurants has largely fallen out of use and is by many, including etiquette authorities,[2] considered old fashioned; nevertheless it can be made more acceptable to the other party if explained beforehand. Generally a romantic couple will take turns paying the bill or split it. Generally it is assumed that everyone pays for himself or herself in restaurants unless the invitation stated otherwise.
In most of northern Europe, central Europe and Australia the practice of splitting the bill is common. However, on a dinner date, the man may pay the bill.
In several south European countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece or Cyprus it is rather uncommon for most locals to have separate bills and is sometimes even regarded as rude, especially when in larger groups. But in urban areas or places frequented by tourists this has changed over the last decades. In Greece the practice is colloquially called "refené".
Remarkably in Catalonia "going Dutch" is the rule among Catalans. This Catalan usage is so shocking for other Spaniards that it is referred in Spanish language as pagar a la catalana (that can be translated as "to pay the way Catalans do"). Instead pagar a escote means to split the bill equally among all the commensals.
In some parts of Italy (especially the south), the expression pagare alla romana can be translated as: "To pay like people of Rome" or "to pay like they do in Rome". It has a double and opposite meaning, depending by the tradition followed: the modern and more common meaning of pagare alla romana is to divide equally the total cost between all the commensals; the other meaning is the same as "going Dutch". This can lead to misunderstanding.
In France, it is close to "faire moitié-moitié" or "faire moite-moite", which means "each one pays half of the bill". This does not apply to romantic date where the man usually pay according to traditional French "étiquette". In a business meeting, the receiving party usually pays for all - it is considered rude not to do so.
In Middle Eastern cultures, "going Dutch" is seen as being extremely rude. Traditions of hospitality play a great part in determining who pays, therefore an invitation will be given only when the host feels that he is able to afford the expenses of all. Similarly, gender roles and age play a more important role than they would in Western societies. Similar rules apply in Turkey as well, although splitting the bill is becoming increasingly common among the younger generation, especially when all parties have similar income levels.
In Egypt, it is called Englizy, which translates into "English style".
In Iraq, the expression is "Maslawiya", "مصلاوية", referring to the people of Mosul who are supposedly stingy.
In Levant (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan) and some Arab countries, the expression is "Halabia" "حلبية", referring to the people of Halab in Syria, who are known to be stingy with tight money expenditure.
The corresponding phrase in Turkish is hesabı Alman usulü ödemek, which can be translated into English as "to pay the bill the German way" ("Alman usûlü": German style).
Going Dutch.
A Dutch guest at a friends daughters wedding.
----------------------------------------
The Dutch connection made me think about the phrase "going Dutch" and the fact that I had no idea were the saying came from; so here is a little information.
"Going Dutch" is a term that indicates that each person participating in a group activity pays for themselves, rather than any person paying for anyone else, particularly in a restaurant bill. It is also called Dutch date, Dutch treat and "doing Dutch".
In Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, the practice of splitting the bill in restaurants is common. In a courtship situation where both parties have a similar financial standing, the traditional custom of the man always paying in restaurants has largely fallen out of use and is by many, including etiquette authorities,[2] considered old fashioned; nevertheless it can be made more acceptable to the other party if explained beforehand. Generally a romantic couple will take turns paying the bill or split it. Generally it is assumed that everyone pays for himself or herself in restaurants unless the invitation stated otherwise.
In most of northern Europe, central Europe and Australia the practice of splitting the bill is common. However, on a dinner date, the man may pay the bill.
In several south European countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece or Cyprus it is rather uncommon for most locals to have separate bills and is sometimes even regarded as rude, especially when in larger groups. But in urban areas or places frequented by tourists this has changed over the last decades. In Greece the practice is colloquially called "refené".
Remarkably in Catalonia "going Dutch" is the rule among Catalans. This Catalan usage is so shocking for other Spaniards that it is referred in Spanish language as pagar a la catalana (that can be translated as "to pay the way Catalans do"). Instead pagar a escote means to split the bill equally among all the commensals.
In some parts of Italy (especially the south), the expression pagare alla romana can be translated as: "To pay like people of Rome" or "to pay like they do in Rome". It has a double and opposite meaning, depending by the tradition followed: the modern and more common meaning of pagare alla romana is to divide equally the total cost between all the commensals; the other meaning is the same as "going Dutch". This can lead to misunderstanding.
In France, it is close to "faire moitié-moitié" or "faire moite-moite", which means "each one pays half of the bill". This does not apply to romantic date where the man usually pay according to traditional French "étiquette". In a business meeting, the receiving party usually pays for all - it is considered rude not to do so.
In Middle Eastern cultures, "going Dutch" is seen as being extremely rude. Traditions of hospitality play a great part in determining who pays, therefore an invitation will be given only when the host feels that he is able to afford the expenses of all. Similarly, gender roles and age play a more important role than they would in Western societies. Similar rules apply in Turkey as well, although splitting the bill is becoming increasingly common among the younger generation, especially when all parties have similar income levels.
In Egypt, it is called Englizy, which translates into "English style".
In Iraq, the expression is "Maslawiya", "مصلاوية", referring to the people of Mosul who are supposedly stingy.
In Levant (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan) and some Arab countries, the expression is "Halabia" "حلبية", referring to the people of Halab in Syria, who are known to be stingy with tight money expenditure.
The corresponding phrase in Turkish is hesabı Alman usulü ödemek, which can be translated into English as "to pay the bill the German way" ("Alman usûlü": German style).