Dutch courage

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Dutch courage … John le Carré's Toby Bell takes to a cafe to prepare himself to steal an illicit recording back from his employer.

From The Guardian • Apr. 12, 2013

The very effrontery with which you fancy you are braving public opinion is only Dutch courage.

From Barrington Volume I (of II) by Lever, Charles James

The Dutch have had second-hand flags to fight under; And so if "Dutch courage" mean borrowed, what wonder?

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 105 October 7, 1893 by Various

That’s what all fellows who go in for a bit of a spree with other people’s coin say to themselves, so as to give them Dutch courage.

From The New Mistress A Tale by Fenn, George Manville

Then she was forced to emerge—and no tottering criminal, about to face the scaffold, has ever had more need of Dutch courage than Laura in this moment.

From The Getting of Wisdom by Richardson, Henry Handel