Ethnic-based terms of contempt

Bill Palmer w_a_palmer at BELLSOUTH.NET
Thu Feb 26 20:42:20 UTC 2009


The recent discussion of "shade-tree mechanic", which conveys, in some usages, contempt for the referent, naturally leads to the subject of other such expressions.

 In US English many are ethnic -based, such as "Indian giver", "Dutch courage", "Chinese fire-drill", "French leave", "Irish pennant" (this one may be unique to the US Navy).  

How many others are there?  I'm wondering if this is uniquely American.  Probably not, but are we more predisposed to it?

Bill Palmer

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



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