what does it mean to go dutch

Going Dutch is a term that indicates that each person participating in a paid activity covers their own expenses, rather than any one person in the group defraying the cost for the entire group. The term stems from restaurant dining etiquette, but it can also apply to other activities such as going to a movie or a concert. The phrase "going Dutch" is believed to have originated from the rivalry and enmity between the English and Dutch in the 17th century, the period of the Anglo-Dutch Wars. Soldiers having a drink the night before a battle "went Dutch" to avoid being in debt to a colleague if they were killed in the subsequent battle. Similarly, a drink before a battle would also provide a measure of "Dutch courage". Today, "going Dutch" is a common practice in many countries, including the Nordic countries and the Netherlands, where it is the norm for almost every visit to a restaurant. In some cultures, such as India, it is not a common practice, and it is more common for someone to pay the whole bill, sometimes even if it is a large group.