Japanese fire drill

[Sam Clements]

It almost certainly was "Chinese fire drill" in most of the US.  If you
called it "Japanese fire drill" it might be related to where you lived.

Using "Chinese" as a derogatory adjective goes back to the late 1800's.  The
actual term "Chinese fire drill" is cited in RHDAS in 1952, but implied in a
1942-5 cite.

I called it that in 1961, when we would get out at a light and run around
the car.

SC

----- Original Message -----
From: "Patti J. Kurtz" <kurtpatt4 at NETSCAPE.NET>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2003 10:33 AM
Subject: Japanese fire drill


> Just wondered if anyone's ever heard or knows the origins of the
> expression 'Japanese fire drill"-- which, when I was younger, was a
> prank teens did-- they'd stop the car, get out, run around the car and
> get back in again, much to the annoyance of motorists behind them.
>
> Just curious.
>
> Patti Kurtz
> Assistant professor, English
> Minot State University
> --
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