Chinese fire drill

English

Etymology

Perhaps from the WWI era, from the former Western use of Chinese as an ethnic and racial slur; now used only as a festive exclamation.

Noun

Chinese fire drill (plural Chinese fire drills)

  1. (US) A prank performed while stopped in a car at a red light, and where each passenger, including the driver, shouts "Chinese fire drill", exits the vehicle, runs at least once around it, then re-enters, each taking a different seat.
  2. (US, derogatory) A silly, pointless exercise.

Translations

See also

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