Chinese ace
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
An inept airplane pilot.
Register: dated, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Flat-spin pilots are stupid or careless flyers, while Huns or Chinese aces are reckless fellows who have crashed […]
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “Chinese ace” mean?
An inept airplane pilot.
Is “Chinese ace” formal or informal?
Chinese ace is generally dated, slang.