"A Chinese fire drill is a slang term that has been used by Westerners for more than a century, and is today considered offensive or racist.[1][2][3] It is used to describe any situation that is chaotic or confusing.[4]"
Who knew? good thing I am not running for office.
I found this part interesting.
"It is alleged to have originated when a ship staffed by British officers and a Chinese crew practiced a fire drill in the engine room. The bucket brigade drew water from the starboard side, took it to the engine room, and threw it onto the fire. A separate crew hauled the accumulated water to the main deck and heaved the water over the port side. The drill went according to plan until the orders became confused in translation. The bucket brigade began to draw the water from the starboard side, run over to the port side and then throw the water overboard, bypassing the engine room completely.[10]"
Nobody that matters wrote: I thought it was when you stopped your car at a red light, everyone got out, ran once around the car and got back in before the light turned green.
My husband was once explaining to colleagues a potential problem with a piece of software and used the term "a chink in the armor". He didn't get called out for it, but got some disapproving looks.
