# What's the second meaning of this double entendre **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 19, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288 "2012-02-19T00:41:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/21 "2012-02-19T04:19:41Z")
Seriously? “Chink the armor” is now unacceptable because it upsets oversensitive racial vigilantes? Ugh. Makes me want to start a grassroots group of literate Asian armorers calling ourselves Chinks Who Actually Think. (Bonus points if we spawn a Chicks for Chinks fan club) ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/22 "2012-02-19T13:46:56Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Seriously? “Chink the armor” is now unacceptable because it upsets oversensitive racial vigilantes? In this context, where it was chosen because Lin is Asian? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/23 "2012-02-19T14:04:34Z")
At one time the _Guardian_ used to routinely headline any article about China as “Chinks In The Bamboo Curtain” until one author complained that his very serious article was being debased with this sort of trivialisation. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/24 "2012-02-19T14:25:44Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > In this context, where it was chosen because Lin is Asian? Yes. Is that an unfounded accusation or did the author admit to intentionally doing that? ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/25 "2012-02-19T15:56:50Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Is that an unfounded accusation or did the author admit to intentionally doing that? I’ve not heard of an admission that it was intentional, but I don’t believe for a moment that it wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/26 "2012-02-20T18:22:01Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Is that an unfounded accusation or did the author admit to intentionally doing that? I don’t think it matters. Someone who writes “chink in the armor” as a headline about an Asian athlete, then tries to profess all wide-eyed innocence that “I didn’t mean anything by it!” when confronted with charges of racism is being deliberately obtuse, I think. Any reasonable person would see how that could easily be offensive to others even when it’s not offending anyone in the office. It’s weird that this got by so many people, even for a business that likes its sayings and catch-phrases as much as ESPN. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/27 "2012-02-20T18:45:04Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > It’s weird that this got by so many people, even for a business that likes its sayings and catch-phrases as much as ESPN. Perhaps it’s better to say “_in spite of_ a business that likes its sayings”. Unless ESPN had previously used “Chink in the Armor” as an innocuous phrase before, the fact that they like wordplay and catch-phrases makes it _more_ likely that someone would catch this, not less. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/28 "2012-02-20T18:46:43Z")
A clear example of yellow journalism. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/29 "2012-02-20T19:38:01Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > I don’t think it matters. Someone who writes “chink in the armor” as a headline about an Asian athlete, then tries to profess all wide-eyed innocence that “I didn’t mean anything by it!” when confronted with charges of racism is being deliberately obtuse, I think. Any reasonable person would see how that could easily be offensive to others even when it’s not offending anyone in the office. > > It’s weird that this got by so many people, even for a business that likes its sayings and catch-phrases as much as ESPN. I believe an ESPN anchor was suspended for 30 for use of the phrase. He apparently could point to the fact that he’d used the phrase innocuously in the past so he was only suspended, not fired as the headline writer was. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/30 "2012-02-20T20:17:07Z")
> [@Kyrie\_Eleison](#): > > You’ve quoted a passage from the article, not its title. Your confusion is understandable; that’s really poor reporting on the NYT’s part. They neglected to actually mention ESPN’s chosen title, which was “Chink in the Armor.” [Here’s](http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/319842) a more informative article about the situation. I don’t think it was poor reporting as much as it was that the paper didn’t want to repeat the phrase. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/31 "2012-02-20T21:20:56Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I don’t think it was poor reporting as much as it was that the paper didn’t want to repeat the phrase. That’s a pretty stupid thing to do, however. “Something happened, today, but we’re not saying what, because we’re afraid people will accuse us of condoning it. Just take our word for it that it"s newsworthy. No, trust us. It is. The people we’re reporting on were bad and deserve your scorn. We just won’t tell you why, so you won’t feel the same about us.” ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/32 "2012-02-20T23:30:23Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > I don’t think it matters. Someone who writes “chink in the armor” as a headline about an Asian athlete, then tries to profess all wide-eyed innocence that “I didn’t mean anything by it!” when confronted with charges of racism is being deliberately obtuse, I think. Any reasonable person would see how that could easily be offensive to others even when it’s not offending anyone in the office. > > It’s weird that this got by so many people, even for a business that likes its sayings and catch-phrases as much as ESPN. I disagree; IMO the phrase “chink in the armor” is a perfectly valid, common phrase and this whole thing is blown out of proportion. Heck, I’m Asian myself and as much as I abhor genuine racism, this seems more like an exploited opportunity for other news organizations to lambast one of their own for the sake of sensationalism. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/33 "2012-02-20T23:40:51Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Someone who writes “chink in the armor” as a headline about an Asian athlete, then tries to profess all wide-eyed innocence I saw what you did there 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/34 "2012-02-21T04:21:09Z")
The [fired editor was interviewed today](http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/jeremy-lin-slur-honest-mistake-fired-espn-editor-anthony-federico-claims-article-1.1025566#ixzz1mzEu4fHD): > [@](#): > > The ESPN editor fired Sunday for using “chink in the armor” in a headline about Knicks phenom Jeremy Lin said the racial slur never crossed his mind - and he was devastated when he realized his mistake. > > “This had nothing to do with me being cute or punny,” Anthony Federico told the Daily News. > > “I’m so sorry that I offended people. I’m so sorry if I offended Jeremy.” > > The headline - “Chink in the Armor: Jeremy Lin’s 9 Turnovers Cost Knicks in Streak-stopping Loss to Hornets” - appeared on ESPN’s mobile website at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday and was removed by 3:05 a.m. > > FORMER NBA STAR TWEETS RACIST JEREMY LIN JOKE > > Battling to contain a furor, the sports network fired Federico and suspended anchor Max Bretos for 30 days because it turned out he had used the same expression on the air last week. ESPN offered profuse mea culpas and promised to be “better in the future.” > > Federico, 28, said he understands why he was axed. “ESPN did what they had to do,” he said. > > He said he has used the phrase “at least 100 times” in headlines over the years and thought nothing of it when he slapped it on the Lin story. > > Federico called Lin one of his heroes - not just because he’s a big Knicks fan, but because he feels a kinship with a fellow “outspoken Christian.” > > “My faith is my life,” he said. “I’d love to tell Jeremy what happened and explain that this was an honest mistake.” You know what’s really racist? Forcing somebody to lose their job for using a innocuous part of the English language, thereby ensuring that there’s now a class of otherwise-useful phrases that can no longer be used with certain racial groups in popular media, further segregating a language that’s supposed to shared by all. Time to invent drab new idioms :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/35 "2012-02-21T04:32:40Z")
Agreed. I can’t wait for someone to protest Prestige Brands’ ‘Spic and Span’ cleaning products because they really should call it ‘Hispanic and Span’ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/36 "2012-02-21T04:39:58Z")
Stupid is a good reason to fire someone. If you’re too stupid to do your job, you get canned ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/37 "2012-02-21T04:43:57Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > Stupid is a good reason to fire someone. If you’re too stupid to do your job, you get canned I think this is more a case of his bosses caving to the stupid and sacrificing him for PR. “Oh no, dear readers, we’ve offended your delicate sensibilities! Allow us to appease you with an equally thoughtless, hasty firing.” A chink in the armor is a hole in one’s defenses, not a put-down for people of Asian heritage. Idling on stupidity likes this takes time and media coverage away from real racial issues. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/38 "2012-02-21T06:49:06Z")
> [@Yarster](#): > > Agreed. I can’t wait for someone to protest Prestige Brands’ ‘Spic and Span’ cleaning products because they really should call it ‘Hispanic and Span’ 😃 Who you callin’ a Span? You racist! ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288/39 "2012-02-21T11:49:33Z")
> [@Yarster](#): > > Agreed. I can’t wait for someone to protest Prestige Brands’ ‘Spic and Span’ cleaning products because they really should call it ‘Hispanic and Span’ 😃 Nah… the race card players know which battles to fight. They’ll save their cards for when playing them will be most effective. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-meaning-of-this-double-entendre/613288.md?page=1)