Chinese fire drill

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.3 Usage notes

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

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

Wikipedia

[edit] Noun

Chinese fire drill (plural Chinese fire drills)

1. 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.
2. (derogatory) A silly, pointless exercise.

[edit] Usage notes

Although this term seems to have lost all traces of an insulting meaning, it is possible some might be offended.