Re: Beating the Dutch

John Cowan <jcowan@...> wrote:
>
> English is full of these "Dutch" idioms:  Dutch anchor 'a useless
> object (archaic)', Dutch uncle 'someone who talks to you patronizingly',
> Dutch treat 'each pays for himself', Dutch auction 'the price is lowered
> until someone bids', if that's so I'm a Dutchman '[emphatic negation]',
> Dutch courage 'courage induced by alcohol', double Dutch 'jargon'.
    "Double dutch" is also the name of a form of jumprope, involving two
people (usually girls) holding two ropes which are both swung around one or
two jumpers in opposite directions, so that the jumpers are alternating
which rope is being jumped.  It used to be quite popular when my children
were in elementary school (and maybe still is).  Hartford, where I live,
was (and maybe still is) known for the skill of its double dutch teams,
which used to (and maybe still do) win or at least place high in the
national championships every year.

 ===========================================================================

                 Dennis Paul Himes    <>    himes@cshore.com
                   http://home.cshore.com/himes/dennis.htm
        Gladilatian page: http://home.cshore.com/himes/glad/lang.htm

Disclaimer: "True, I talk of dreams; which are the children of an idle
brain, begot of nothing but vain fantasy; which is as thin of substance as
the air."                      - Romeo & Juliet, Act I Scene iv Verse 96-99

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