Dutch reckoning
noun1
Archaic, Idiomatic, Uncommon A (falsified) bill that is not itemised, and that is unjustifiably high.
- As if all Light of Reasoning were so shut up in Clavius his Brain, that because he does not see, the rest of Mankind must be blind; and what is that way of Reasoning that he betakes himself to, but by huddling the Principles of Geometry into Confusion, without order of method of Reasoning, to make a Conclusion, like a Dutch Reckoning of Allem-al?1712, Roger Coke, A Detection Of The Court and State Of England During The Four Last Reigns, page 22
- "You knows we never took Mike's duds till you couldn't pay his charges any longer; and since we comes to that, there's two weeks of three shillings and sixpence due for your lodging in the Star-Chamber, for yourself and Master Lionel Falconer, which I supposes you means to pay with a Dutch reckoning: you sees I can speak some names right enough,—d'ye take me,—hey?" and with an ill-natured leer he left the hall.1828, Death on Board-Wages, published in Tales of an Antiquary (volume 2 of 3) by Henry Colburn, New Burlington Street, London
1 more example
- 'That's better!' he said, still smiling, but very much more pleasantly. 'Rig Jane out in the first style of elegance, and send me a Dutch reckoning: I don't want to know the particulars.'2009, Georgette Heyer, Frederica, page 75:
3
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see Dutch, reckoning.
- 1 March 1625 in the Dutch reckoning was, in the English reckoning of the time, 19 February 1624.