Chinese fire drill

English

Etymology

Perhaps from the WWI era, from the British practice of using Chinese as a slur; now used only as a festive exclamation.

Noun

Chinese fire drill (plural Chinese fire drills)

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

Translations

prank

Spanish: simulacro de incendio de China

See also

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