Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004

In our last episode,
<uShOb.12420$i4.5114@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net>,
the lovely and talented Martin Ambuhl
broadcast on alt.usage.english:

Almost certainly this is it.  "Chinks out" graffiti have appeared in
Belfast recently where the meaning clearly is "Chinese people get
out."

I note that some people seem to think that if you take chinks out
of armor you leave chinks in the armor.

} Stéphan wrote:
}
}> Heeeeeeeeeeeeelp
}>
}> I'm french and looking for the traduction in french for "chinks out"
}>
}> I absolutely need the answer for tommorrow morning !
}
} That is insufficient context for and answer.  "Chinks out!" might be the
} equivalent of "Juden heraus!" applied to Chinese folk.  If "chink" is a
} verb meaning [SOED] "emit a short, sharp ringing sound," then some
} variation on "tinter" might work.

Especially if someone is translating the subtitles for an early episode of
_King of the Hill_ wherein Dale Gribble is commenting on the government's
lack of success in getting the "chings out" of the black helicopters for
silent hovering.