English

Noun

Chinese fire drill ‎(plural Chinese fire drills)

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

Translations

Usage notes

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

See also

• goat rodeo
• herding cats