Paddy Wagon is a derogatory term!

[The Backlash Cometh]

One of those things that make you go hmm... How did this term manage to survive the test of time and are there other similar terms which have slipped under the radar?

These are the thoughts that came to mind when I saw a green box-like Mercedes Benz drive by on the interstate yesterday. I thought, gee, what fool would shell out money to buy something that looks that ugly? It looks like a Paddy Wagon. Anybody know anything about the Mercedes Benz model?

[Loonman]

1. Chinese Fire Drill

You can still say that with relative impunity.

[Guy_Montag]

2. What does that mean? n/t

[TXlib]

7. It means pointless frantic activity.

[orthogonal]

3. No, it's nor

It's only derogatory if you're assuming the "Paddy" -- the Irishman -- is locked up in the back.

But the term derives from the Paddy wagon's driver{/i]: after the Civil War, a majority of the police (and firemen -- yes, men at that time) in large Northeastern cities like New York and Boston were Irish.

But the verbs "gyp" (to shortchange, from "Gypsy", a derogatory term for "Roma") and "jew" (to bargain in a miserly manner) are derogatory.

[H2O Man]

4. Correct.

It is indeed named after the Irish-American drivers of the wagons. However, many of those who resemble the passengers will still argue the point!

[Bridget Burke]

5. Depends on the exact etymology....

If "Paddy Wagon" began in the USA, it might be related to the number of Irish in the police force--like my grandfather.

If in England, the term refers to the drunken sots picked up in the evening; definitely derogatory in that case. (Single immigrant men often don't have many social opportunities.)

Go to the source: Paddywagon Tours offers bargain travel in Ireland. They've added a one-day tour of Belfast!



http://www.paddywagontours.com/all.html

I'll have to vote with the "non-derogatory".....

[non sociopath skin]

6. It's still common here in the UK to talk about "taking the mickey" ....

... or about someone being "in a paddy" when they're bad tempered.

I guess that anti-Irish is the last taboo for a lot of folk.

The skin