Chinese whispers

Posted by ESC on September 11, 2009 at 11:51

In Reply to: Chinese whispers posted by Bill on September 11, 2009 at 07:36:

: Anyone know the origin of the phrase: "Chinese whispers"?

According to previous discussion, Chinese whispers is a parlor game that is called gossip or telephone in the United States. A story is passed from person to person and is distorted in the telling. The sense was that "Chinese" is used to mean inferior like Mexican standoff, Dutch treat, etc. See "Chinese" in the archives. And -- en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Chinese_whispers