[Ads-l] to "dutch"

[Dan Goncharoff]

Apparently the American Dialect Society published The Argot of the
Racetrack in 1951. It mentions the Dutch book.

On Sun, Dec 27, 2020, 11:34 AM Peter Reitan <pjreitan at hotmail.com> wrote:

> An early explanation of the word suggests it was "derived from the habit
> some ignorant Germans have of making themselves say what they don't mean,
> and the flippant sports apply the term to a book that 'wins backward,' or
> stands to lose no matter which horse wons the race."
> https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66134635/the-los-angeles-times/
>
> LA Times, October 25, 1903, page 23.
> ________________________________
> From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of
> Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2020 7:33:28 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Subject: to "dutch"
>
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> Subject:      to "dutch"
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "To lay bets in such a way as to win by covering all possibilities
> proportionately; also fig."
>
> Not in OED.
>
> 1902 _St. Paul Globe_ (Dec. 21) 33: When the book was "Dutched," it meant
> that the player turned the tables on the bookie, and played every horse in
> the race, certain of winning on practically all. ...In the days when the
> men in the ring had the large slates, standing up in full view, on which
> the prices were clearly written in large figures, it was an easy matter to
> "Dutch" the books. [How-to details follow.]
>
> 1910 _Washington Times_ (Sept. 4) 12: The Cubs will be stronger favorites
> in Chicago than in Philadelphia. Fine chance to "Dutch the book."
>
> 1914 _Evening Bulletin _ (Providence, R.I.) (Sept. 11) Sec. III 9: At the
> beginning of the season these sporting men backed the champions at prices
> of 1 to 2 and 1 to 3. They are now endeavoring to lay off as a matter of
> protection, to Dutch the book, in other words.
>
> 1916 _Denver Rocky Mountain News_ (Dec. 3) (Want Ads Section) 3: FOR SALE -
> ACRES AND RANCHES... A Chance to Dutch the Book...for $300 under value,
> raise vegetables and chickens; you can't lose.
>
> 1924 _San Francisco Chronicle_ (Oct. 2) (Sports) 2: One could easily "dutch
> the book" by betting on Washington in New York and the Giants in San
> Francisco. On such a basis, one would wager $1000 in New York to win $1200
> and $1000 in San Francisco to win $1250.
>
> 1932 _San Francisco Chronicle_ (June 14) (Sports) 15: In the East you might
> bet $800 on Schmeling against $1000. In San Francisco you would then wager
> $800 on Sharkey. What would happen? You would stand to win $200 no matter
> who might win. Of course, in the case of a draw, you would be upsticks and
> nobody hurt. But it is not always easy to make sure of "Dutching the book."
>
> 1986 _Jersey Journal_ (Jersey City) (Apr. 14) 24: So get ready to dutch the
> book.
>
>
> The origin? Evidently < "Dutch book" (not in OED), 'a bookmaker's inexpert
> odds that allow a bettor to profit by wagering proportionately on all
> possibilities; also fig.'
>
>
> 1894 _Evansville [Ind.] Courier and Press_ (June 15) 7: Parties ...who seem
> content to be called bookmakers even if they do offer to the public what is
> commonly known in the ring as a Dutch book....[T]heir patrons get the best
> of it, as long as it lasts.
>
> 1895 _San Francisco Chronicle_ (Jan. 9)  10: Then Joe went after Motor
> money. What kind of a Dutch book did Joe have with Motor at 13 to 5,
> Realization at 8 to 5, and Elise at 6 to 1?
>
> 1911 _Evening World_ (N.Y.C.) (Mar. 2) (Daily Mag.):  Concentrate! The
> fellow who plays for General Results is making a Dutch book on himself!
>
> 1930 _Times-Union_ (Albany, N.Y.) (JUne 8) B-5:  Obviously Shaw could not
> lay these prices under any other system for the reason that he would likely
> be making a "dutch" book.
>
>
> Why "Dutch" (presumably "German")?  The quest goes on.
>
> JL
>
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
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>
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>

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