Chinaman

Note: This page may contain terms or definitions that are offensive or inappropriate for some readers.

Chi·na·man

C0298600 (chī′nə-mən)n. Offensive A Chinese man.

Chinaman

(ˈtʃaɪnəmən) n, pl -men1. (Peoples) archaic or derogatory a native or inhabitant of China2. (Cricket) (often not capital) cricket a ball bowled by a left-handed bowler to a right-handed batsman that spins from off to leg

Chi•na•man

(ˈtʃaɪ nə mən)

n., pl. -men. Older Use: Usually Offensive. (a term used to refer to a Chinese.) Idioms: a Chinaman's chance, Usually Offensive. the slightest chance. [1765–75] usage: Definition 1 is rarely used today. Definition 1 as well as the expression a Chinaman's chance are usually perceived as insulting to the Chinese.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	Chinaman - (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descentchinkderogation, disparagement, depreciation - a communication that belittles somebody or somethingethnic slur - a slur on someone's race or languagejargon, lingo, patois, argot, vernacular, slang, cant - a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves); "they don't speak our lingo"Chinese - a native or inhabitant of Communist China or of Nationalist China
	2.	Chinaman - a ball bowled by a left-handed bowler to a right-handed batsman that spins from off to legbowling - (cricket) the act of delivering a cricket ball to the batsman

Translations

Chinaman

Note: This page may contain terms or definitions that are offensive or inappropriate for some readers.

have a Chinaman on (one's) back

To suffer from an addiction to narcotics or the withdrawal symptoms caused by it. A derogatory phrase, it likely refers to opium's classical association with Southeast Asia. Having that Chinaman on her back has kept Janet out of work for years. I want to get clean and turn my life around, but having this Chinaman on my back is absolute torture.See also: back, Chinaman, have, on

have a Chinaman at (one's) neck

To suffer from an addiction to narcotics or the withdrawal symptoms caused by it. A derogatory phrase, it likely refers to opium's classical association with Southeast Asia. Having that Chinaman at her neck has kept Janet out of work for years. I want to get clean and turn my life around, but having this Chinaman at my neck is absolute torture.See also: Chinaman, have, neck

carry a Chinaman on (one's) back

To suffer from an addiction to narcotics or the withdrawal symptoms caused by it. A derogatory phrase, it likely refers to opium's classical association with Southeast Asia. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. Carrying that Chinaman on her back has kept Janet out of work for years. I want to get clean and turn my life around, but carrying this Chinaman on my back is absolute torture.See also: back, carry, Chinaman, on

Chinaman's chance

Little or no chance at all; a completely hopeless prospect. This derogatory phrase originated in the 1800s and referred to Chinese immigrants who worked for extremely low wages, faced racism and higher taxation, and were prohibited from testifying in court for violence committed against them. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. See also: chance

not a Chinaman's chance

offensive slang, dated Absolutely no chance whatsoever. This racist, derogatory phrase originated in the 1800s and referred to Chinese immigrants who worked for extremely low wages, faced racism and higher taxation, and were prohibited from testifying in court for violence committed against them. "Chinaman" is a racial slur for a Chinese person. Primarily heard in US. A: "They don't have a Chinaman's chance of winning the championship." B: "Grandad! You can't say offensive things like that anymore!"See also: chance, not

Chinaman's chance

Also, ghost of a chance. An extremely slim chance, a hopeless undertaking. Both versions are most often put negatively, as in He hasn't a Chinaman's chance of finishing the work in time, or They haven't a ghost of a chance to get as far as the playoffs. The first term, now considered offensive, dates from the late 1800s when many Chinese immigrants came to work in California and were resented because they worked for lower wages. Its precise allusion is unclear. The variant, which relies on the meaning of ghost as an insubstantial shadow, dates from the mid-1800s. Also see the synonyms fat chance; not an earthly chance. See also: chance

not a Chinaman's chance

Also, not a ghost of a chance. See under Chinaman's chance. See also: chance, not

not a Chinaman's chance

not even a very slight chance. 1952 Frank Yerby A Woman Called Fancy You haven't a Chinaman's chance of raising that money in Boston. See also: chance, not

Chinaman's chance, he hasn't a/not a

No chance whatever. The term dates from the latter half of the nineteenth century, when Chinese immigrants came to California to help build railroads. Their presence was sharply opposed because they would work for far less than white workers. “We are ruined by cheap labor,” wrote Bret Harte in his poem “Plain Language from Truthful James.” According to some authorities, the term applied to those Chinese who tried to supplement their earnings by working claims and streams abandoned by gold prospectors, a virtually hopeless undertaking. Others, poet John Ciardi among them, believe it derives from the way they were regarded as virtually subhuman and had no legal recourse if, for example, they were robbed, attacked, or otherwise abused. It largely replaced the older not a dog’s chance, at least in America, but is now considered offensive. Also see fat chance; snowball's chance.See also: he, not

Chinaman's chance

Slim to no possibility. There have been several explanations about the origin of this odious phrase, all arising from Chinese immigrants working in the American West. One is that they were given the most dangerous jobs, such as setting and igniting explosives. Another is that judges and juries routinely convicted Chinese defendants on the flimsiest of evidence. A third is that Chinese miners were allowed to work gold claims only after others had taken the best ore. In any event, “Chinaman's chance” should be relegated to the slag heap.See also: chance

Chinaman

Chi·na·man

Chinaman

Chi•na•man

Chinaman

have a Chinaman on (one's) back

have a Chinaman at (one's) neck

carry a Chinaman on (one's) back

Chinaman's chance

not a Chinaman's chance

Chinaman's chance

not a Chinaman's chance

not a Chinaman's chance

Chinaman's chance, he hasn't a/not a

Chinaman's chance

Chinaman

Chinaman

Chinaman

Synonyms for Chinaman

noun (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent

Synonyms

Related Words

noun a ball bowled by a left-handed bowler to a right-handed batsman that spins from off to leg

Related Words