Why is it Chinese?

[TomKane]

Hi,

Do you know why Chinese Whispers are Chinese? Or why a Chinese burn is Chinese? Anyone know the origin of either term?

Thanks,

 

[CajunCenturion]

For those not familar with the Chinese Whisper game, it's the one where one person whispers a sentence to the first person. That person then whispers it to a second, and so on until you get to the last person. The last person then announces the sentence.

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[SF0751]

I've never heard of either term, although I'm familar with the game that Cajun describes. A description of an "Indian Burn" can be found here, along with a possible explanation of the name origin.

Susan
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." - Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894)

 

[CajunCenturion]

Have you heard of a "Chinese fire drill"?

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[SF0751]

Heard of it? Heck, I've participated in them! (Many, many, many years ago, during high school).

Susan
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." - Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894)

 

[CajunCenturion]

So why is it a "Chinese" fire drill?

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[TomKane]

I can't say I've ever heard of a "Chinese fire drill" - what is it?

 

[sleipnir214]

Or where did my grandfather's expression, "more complicated than Chinese arithmetic" come from?


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[AnotherHiggins]

TomKane,

I've never heard of either term you mentioned. I, too, know the game that CC describes, but, if memory serves, when we were young we called it "Grapevine".

I know of an 'India Burn'. Is that the same thing you're talking about, TomKane?

As to your question, a 'Chinese Fire Drill' is when everyone in a car (preferably at least four) get out and run around the car, often getting into a different door than the one they exited - all while at a stoplight in traffic.

[pondering]why did I think that was fun again?[/pondering]

[tt]_____
[blue]-John[/blue]
[/tt][red]"If you're flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit."[/red]
-Mitch Hedberg

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[sleipnir214]

[pondering]why did I think that was fun again?[/pondering]

Maybe because irritating everyone around you is immensely entertaining when you're young?


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[TomKane]

Yes an Indian Burn and a Chinese Burn would appear to be the same thing.

 

[SF0751]

Here is an explanation of why it's called a "Chinese Fire Drill".

Susan
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." - Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894)

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Maybe because irritating everyone around you is immensely entertaining when you're young?

Ah yes. I knew it was something, 'just couldn't quite put my finger on it.

[tt]_____
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[/tt][red]"If you're flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit."[/red]
-Mitch Hedberg

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[tsdragon]

I've heard of a "Chinese File Drill", but never in the context you mention (although it does seem to apply). I've always heard, and used, it to mean basically any situation in which lots of people are running around frantically and accomplishing absolutely nothing. But I have no idea where it comes from.


Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[SantaMufasa]

Wouldn't it be fun to find out all of the monikers in other nations that end up with "American <something>..." or "Yankee <something>..." as part of the appelation? I'm sure there are plenty.

While I lived in the UK, the most successful brand of cooking lard was "American Lard". Now knowing the relative hatred we have in the US for anything "lardy", how on earth did they come up with that name?

Those of you from foreign lands (which are 50% of Tek-Tipsters), please let us know of all things "American..." or "Yankee...".

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)

http://www.dasages.com

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[CajunCenturion]

From SF0751's link,

... that the use of the modifier "Chinese" in the derogatory sense of "confused, disorganized or inferior" dates back to the time of World War I and was largely a British invention.

Some national slurs of American origin come by using 'Mexican'. This can been in Mexican standoff, Mexican promotion, or a Mexican athlete.

One of the earliest national slurs applied to the Americans also came from the British -- Yankee Doodle.

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[Volk359]

How 'bout a Chinese Auction? I've participated in a few and once it gets really going it can get "confused, disorganized or inferior".

Fun stuff!

 

[KenCunningham]

Chasing the 'Yankee Dollar' might be one. Must look up the origin tomorrow!

 

[sleipnir214]

I remember my grandmother calling a kiss a "Yankee dime". But that's more a North versus South [within the U.S. -- it's an echo of the American Civil War] thing than an intranational versus extranational thing.


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[elanor]

I'm one half of "Irish twins," but since my Irish relatives call us that, I don't know if it's the same thing!
Thanks!
Elanor