I'm a Dutchman if I do
Preserved but no longer current.
A strong refusal. During the rivalry between England and Holland in the 17th century, the word Dutch was synonymous with all that was false and hateful, and when a man said, "I would rather be a Dutchman than do what you ask me," he used the strongest terms of refusal that words could express.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “I'm a Dutchman if I do” mean?
A strong refusal. During the rivalry between England and Holland in the 17th century, the word Dutch was synonymous with all that was false and hateful, and when a man said, "I would rather be a Dutchman than do what you ask me," he used the strongest terms of refusal that words could express.
Is “I'm a Dutchman if I do” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.