Dutch treat

American  

noun

Sometimes Offensive.

1. a meal or entertainment for which each person pays their own expenses.

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Dutch treat British  

noun

1. informal an entertainment, meal, etc, where each person pays for himself

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Dutch treat Cultural  

1. An outing or date on which each person pays his or her own way. To “go Dutch” is to go on such a date.

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Dutch treat Idioms  

1. An outing or date in which each person pays his or her own expenses. For example, Her parents agreed that she might date if it were a Dutch treat. The related expression go Dutch means “to go on a date with each person paying their own way,” as in Students often elect to go Dutch. The first term dates from about 1870, and the variant from the early 1900s.

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Sensitive Note

A Dutch treat is not a treat at all. Because Dutch is used here to negate the concept of a generous treat, the term is sometimes perceived as insulting. See also Dutch.

Etymology

Origin of Dutch treat

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

You could get a plate of poffertjes - a Dutch treat of tiny pancakes covered in icing sugar - without having to wait in a long line.

From Washington Times

You could get a plate of poffertjes — a Dutch treat of tiny pancakes covered in icing sugar — without having to wait in a long line.

From Seattle Times

But, Rose cautioned, these new varieties were not the same as the original Dutch treat.

From Washington Post

It was a Dutch treat for the three young Americans playing in the two events, with Shankland not dropping a game in his 9-4 finish.

From Washington Times

Forget it!" he said warmly; "this isn't a Dutch treat.

From Project Gutenberg