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)

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

prank

• Spanish: simulacro de incendio de China

See also

• goat rodeo
• herding cats