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1. (n) A state of confusion. It is thought that the term was derived when a Royal Navy Ship consisting of a Chinese crew and British officers was set to perform a firedrill. One group of the crew was to carry buckets of water from the port side of the ship to the engine room to extinguish the blaze. Then another team was to take buckets of water from the floor of the engine room and throw it off the starboard side. In the first moments of the drill, things went fine, however, difficulty in translation between the officers and crew caused confusion resulting in the first bucket team taking water from the port side of the ship, and dumping it off the starboard side of the ship while the second team did nothing. 2. (n) When the occupants of a car stop at a traffic light and exit the vehicle to cavort around the car like the lead knife in a knife parade See also Chinese National Anthem and Chinese Puzzle
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