dutch comfort
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Thank God it is no worse.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “dutch comfort” mean?
Thank God it is no worse.
Is “dutch comfort” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.