英语词汇实用小百科 AA制go Dutch

Xiaohua：Hello and welcome to roundtable’s word of the week. 在头一次约会的时候，人们经常会为吃饭时谁来付账而苦恼，这个时候“going Dutch”不失为一个好方法。So everyone knows what “going Dutch” means, but where exactly does the phrase come from?

John: Yeah, actually sometimes it’s just called going Dutch, but it also can be called a Dutch date, a Dutch treat, which apparently¹ is the oldest form, and also doing Dutch. So there are two possible ways this could be used: each person pays their own expenses or the entire bill is basically divided evenly between all participants. In strict terms, “going Dutch” refers to the former that everyone pays their own expenses, and the latter is usually referred to as just splitting the bill.

Xiaohua: 所以“going Dutch”其实是指在一餐聚会中，每个人付自己点的那部分食物的账单。还有一种方法呢，则是把账单的总费用平均摊到个人头上，这个时候呢，就叫做splitting the bill?

John: Splitting the bill, that’s right. So looking at the history of this phrase, one person has suggested that going Dutch might actually originate from the concept of a Dutch door. So this is usually farm houses. The door is actually consisted of two equal parts.

Xiaohua: Interesting. 为什么一定跟Dutch有关呢？有一种解释是说，荷兰人家里的门经常是双开门，对开的那种门，所以that’s why it’s “going Dutch”.

John: Whereas the Oxford² English Dictionary connects “go Dutch” and “Dutch treat” and other phrases actually coming from the 17th century when there was a bit tension between the English and the Dutch. Another example is a “Dutch courage”, so in that sense it’s used to basically be derisive³, or it’s actually a bit of negative term

Xiaohua: 这个说法我也听说过，就是说英国人其实当时对荷兰人是有很多偏见的，导致在以前的英语中，存在很多这种歧视或者嘲笑荷兰人的词汇。

John：Yeah. Another term that’s actually used almost primarily in China is AA. Interestingly enough this term does not necessarily originate in the English speaking countries. In fact it actually originates in Hong Kong.

Xiaohua: 英语母语国家的人好像很少说AA制，但是在香港，在大中华地区，很多人都说，我们来AA吧。

John: Yeah. There’re actually a few different theories there, as to what exactly that means. Some people suggest that it’s actually the algebraic average. And there are other theories suggesting that it means all apart.

Xiaohua：So basically if I say AA to a friend from an English speaking country, they most probably wouldn’t know what I am talking about.

John: They are probably thinking you are talking about alcoholic⁴ anonymous⁵, which is very, very different.

Xiaohua: I see. So “going Dutch”, that’s our word of the week.

1 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

2 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

3 derisive   

adj.嘲弄的

参考例句：

• A storm of derisive applause broke out.一阵暴风雨般的哄笑声轰然响起。
• They flushed,however,when she burst into a shout of derisive laughter.然而，当地大声嘲笑起来的时候，她们的脸不禁涨红了。

4 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

5 anonymous   

adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的

参考例句：

• Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
• The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。