as bold as Beauchamp Brave, courageous, daring. Some say this now little-heard phrase derives from the celebrated feat of Thomas Beauchamp, who in 1346 defeated 100 Normans with one squire and six archers. Almost 300 years later a play entitled The Three Bold Beauchamps was written, which is cited as another possible source for as bold as Beauchamp or bold Beauchamp.

derring-do Daring deeds, brave feats, acts of heroism. The term owes its existence to a series of repeated printing and copying errors which converted the original verb phrase daring to do to the now common noun derring-do.

Dutch courage A false sense of courage or bravery induced by alcohol; potvalor or pot-valiancy. This colloquial expression, in use since at least 1826, is an allusion to the heavy drinking for which the Dutch people were known. The term appeared in Herbert Spencer’s The Study of Sociology (1873):

A dose of brandy, by stimulating the circulation, produces “Dutch courage.”

fear no colors To be audacious; to be unflinching in the face of hostility or danger. In this expression, colors carries its early military meaning of ‘flag.’ In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Malvolio ascribes this military origin to the: phrase. The term was more figuratively used by Jonathan Swift in Tale of a Tub (1704):

He was a person that feared no colours, but mortally hated all.

geneva courage Courage produced by alcohol intoxication; foolhardy boasting triggered by drunkenness. The geneva of this expression has no connection with the Swiss city, but refers rather to a Dutch gin called Hollands or geneva. Geneva courage is thus virtually synonymous with Dutch courage or potvalor.

heart of oak A valiant, stalwart spirit; a man of great courage and endurance; a man of superior quality. The heart or core of a tree is literally ‘the solid central part without sap or albumen.’ The expression has been in figurative use since at least 1609.