Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996 16:26:56 -0600

From: Samuel Jones smjones1[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]FACSTAFF.WISC.EDU

Subject: Re: Chinese Fire Drill



DARE I has two senses of Chinese fire drill:



1. A scene of great confusion; a chaotic situation.



Earliest quotation is from 1961.



2. A college prank in which students jump out of a car as it is stopped at

a stoplight, run around the car, and jump back in as the light turns green.



Earliest quotation 1976, reminiscing about the early 1960s.



Joan Hall, DARE

jdhall[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]facstaff.wisc.edu



Howdy, Ms. Hall!



It may be that time is playing tricks with this old thunder lizard's

memory, but I am almost positive that I not only heard but also used the

expression, "rushin' around like a Chinese fire drill" while serving with

the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater, during WWII. Does anyone else recall

its usage during the 40's war years? I should like to believe that my

recollection is accurate.



smjones



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