[Razor]

Where did the use of the phrase ‘Chinese Auction’ originate? There is a common use of this term for fund-raisers, usually in non-profits. Can this be associated with some kind of Chinese game, perhaps?

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Name : Razor, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : American Indian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 48, City : Pittsburgh, State : PA, Country : United States, Occupation : graduate student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Dara]

I doubt the term has anything to do with China. It’s common in English to speak as if a variation on something or an odd version of something is foreign, specifically usually ‘Chinese’ or ‘Dutch.’ It can be a way af describing something as exotic or different, for example, ‘Chinese checkers’ or ‘Chinese jumprope,’ or, as inadequate or inferior, like ‘Dutch treat’ and ‘Dutch courage.’ ‘French’ has been used that way historically as well, but the only example I can recall is ‘French toast.’ I know that some other languages do the same thing, but with different countries. It’s another manifestation of human tribalism – none of these things actually has anything to do with the countries they are named after; they are just being used as symbols of the exotic.

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Name : Dara, Gender : F, Age : 32, City : Berkeley, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Linguist, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[Jerry-S30962]

Although many such terms are derogatory (‘Dutch courage’), many are not. As was observed, the terms are often used to convey something exotic or desirable, particularly when it comes to food. Think of what Americans call ‘Danish,’ the French call ‘a la russe’ and so on. Whether any of these had a basis in some ethnic cuisine, they persist in menus. I don’t know if Chinese checkers originated in China or not, but there is such a thing as Chinese chess, which somewhat resembles Western chess.

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Name : Jerry-S30962, Gender : M, City : New Britain, State : CT, Country : United States, 

[John]

I suppose it was just one of those ‘CHINES WHISPERS’ eh Razor ,or that to sharp for you..??

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[Robert]

Is the explanation for the term ‘Chinese fire drill’ the same as the explanations for the above phrases?

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Name : Robert, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 23, City : Cincinnati, State : OH, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

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