I'm a Dutchman

phrase

Statement said after describing or hearing something obviously false, or as an impossible alternative to something that is sure to happen.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

phrase
  1. UKhumorousStatement said after describing or hearing something obviously false, or as an impossible alternative to something that is sure to happen.

    This is going to mean a gold watch and a week's outing at Southend with full pay for both of us or I'm a Dutchman.

    1934, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], The Bravo of London

Origin

Likely dates to the 17th century Anglo-Dutch wars, along with other uncomplimentary terms for the Dutch.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

I'm a Dutchman. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/I'm%20a%20Dutchman

MLA

“I'm a Dutchman.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/I'm%20a%20Dutchman. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “I'm a Dutchman,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/I'm%20a%20Dutchman.

Source: I'm a Dutchman on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.