DUTCH TREAT {GO DUTCH}, DYED IN THE WOOL, EAGER BEAVER: American English Idioms #61

DUTCH TREAT {GO DUTCH}

The term “go dutch” is an idiomatic phrase meaning to divide the cost of a date between two people. This is usually done by one person offering to pay for half of the cost of the date before it commences, or alternatively, splitting the bill afterwards. The phrase is also used in regards to meals shared between friends or family members, whereby each individual pays for their own food item.

The Dutch phrase “go dutch” typically means to divide the cost of an activity in half, or to share the cost equally. It is an idiom that refers to the time during European colonization when the Netherlands was engaged in trade with American Indians. The Dutch traders would provide blankets and other items for barter in return for furs, which they then sold back to other Europeans.

A Dutch, or dutch, treat is an arrangement where two people split the cost of the shared food or drink.  A Dutch is also an idiom meaning to take turns in doing something such as paying for a meal or drink.  The origin of this term is unknown but it may be derived from the phrase “doe-de-diet” which means “to alternate in action”.

Going Dutch is an idiom referring to the act of splitting the bill evenly amongst the people present.

DYED IN THE WOOL

The phrase dyed in the wool has an idiomatic meaning that is used to describe someone or something that is set in their ways, with the implication that they are unchangeable. This phrase comes from the traditional process of applying dye to cloth where it becomes thoroughly mixed in with the material so that it cannot be washed out.  This phrase typically applies when talking about people who refuse to change their attitude or behavior when confronted with new information or different circumstances.

The idiom “dyed in the wool” is an old phrase that describe someone or something that has always been loyal to a particular party or organization. It can also be used to describe someone who obstinately adheres to principles which they were taught in childhood, regardless of whether they are valid any more.

The idiom dyed in the wool is an expression that means firmly and uncompromisingly dedicated to a particular cause. The phrase originated in the weaving trade, where dyers would make great efforts to ensure that the colors for cloth became set during the dyeing process. This made it difficult or impossible to remove the color from an individual thread or piece of cloth once it had been dyed.

The phrase “dyed in the wool” derives from the dyeing of cloth, which would cling to wool fibers and was difficult to remove. The implication is that an individual’s personality is deeply anchored.

EAGER BEAVER

This idiom suggests that a person is enthusiastic and ready to work. As such, this expression suggests that an eager beaver is always early and prepared for any occasion.

An eager beaver is someone who has an extremely high level of motivation and has a tendency to overwork.

One explanation for the idiom “eager beaver” is that it stems from a Canadian tradition of building canoes with a metal blade called a “beaver tail,” which, when operated by water pressure, cuts through wood quickly. In other words, an eager beaver’s work ethic resembles the ability of the metal blade to cut through wood quickly.

An “eager beaver” is an individual who has an unquenchable desire to work, often at the expense of their own well-being. A popular idiom, the phrase derives from the early days of various lumber mills when loggers would cut down vast swathes of trees in anticipation of upcoming cold weather, whereupon they would stockpile them for later use.

Eager beaver is a colloquial term to describe someone who takes proactive and assertive actions in anticipation of an event. The idiom originates from the phrase “eager beaver” which was used to describe a scout that was eager to get on with scouting, and often put himself in dangerous situations, such as going ahead on his own, or taking risks.