Chinese fire drill

noun, Slang: Usually Offensive.
1.
a state of chaotic, often clamorous disorder.
Origin
probably earlier than 1960-65
Usage note
See Chinese.
Contemporary definitions for Chinese fire drill
noun

a prank in which the passengers of a motor vehicle that is stopped at a stoplight, get out and run around the vehicle before returning to their seats

noun

any state of disorder or confusion

Slang definitions & phrases for Chinese fire drill

Chinese fire drill

noun phrase

Something incredibly confused and confusing: an eight-page letter with a Chinese fire drill of your life/ did their Chinese fire drill of calling the fix-it man

[perhaps fr the WWII Marine Corps expression ''fucked up like Chinese fire call'']