Native English speakers, or of any language for that matter, naturally inherit the knowledge to know what idioms mean because they have the benefit of hearing them every day as they grow up. I… I… I invented the would nervous. Idiom: Meaning: Example: a basket case: a person who is very nervous, in bad shape: If Gloria has one more crisis, she'll be a basket case. The phrase is less used for people now and refers to failing organizations more. B 1 Thought. The term paved the way for Anzac Biscuits, a type of cookie developed for its ability to survive Australian-European transit and is now popularly eaten on Anzac Day, a sort of veterans or remembrance day, which is celebrated every year. Meaning. One that is in a completely hopeless or useless condition. Someone who is a basket case may often feel hopeless about life. Idioms occur frequently in all languages; in English alone … How to use head case in a sentence. 1 a country or an organization whose economic situation is very bad: A few years ago, the country was an economic basket case, but now things are different. I’m sure they thought I was a complete basket case.’ It is said that people without cure to a mental disease used to be sent to a mental health care facility for life where they would manufacture baskets for the rest of their lives. Meaning: A person or thing that is no longer able to function effectively, either through disability or misfortune. Instead, it referred to someone who had a physical disability. Basket case - definition of basket case by The Free Dictionary. [Originally World War I military slang, soldier who has lost all four limbs .] Now it refers to a small, usually mildly annoying person or someone without significance. Menu. Because idioms don't always make sense literally, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom. Here's an example of this idiom in a sentence:... See full answer below. How a Small Event That Nobody Really Cared About Led to WWI. Near the end of the war in May of 1944, once again, the Surgeon General attempted to deny that there were any basket cases: …there is nothing to rumors of so-called ‘basket cases’—cases of men with both arms and legs amputated. Again it was denied that the US army had any such servicemen. [ informal ] The country is an economic basket case with chronic unemployment and rampant crime. You can still find recent instances of this use. It can also mean … : I’m sure they thought I was a complete basket case.’ So let’s take a look at the most popular idioms and common idioms in the English language and what they mean. To go “over the top” once meant to jump out of the trenches and toward the enemy. Later this phrase lost some of its dark aura to mean something or someone who is unable to carry their own weight and is failing. basket case synonyms, basket case pronunciation, basket case translation, English dictionary definition of basket case. I read the book many years ago, it seemed that it was well known, and I thought is very good, but I cannot recall the title or author. Example. A Basket Case is an idiom, meaning a state of powerlessness, crippled emotionally. Noun: a person who displays such resistance ... Read on. a person who has had all four limbs amputated. / I am one of those / Melodramatic fools / Neurotic to the bone, no doubt about it Although it was originally associated with a physical connotation, the phrase has expanded in use to define anyone who is in a precarious mental state. When a certain phrase takes on a new cultural meaning through popular usage, it is known as an idiom. The word comes from slang used by soldiers in the trenches referring to their sleeping bags, which were often infested with fleas. It originated as being applied to people, soldiers in particular, who had lost limbs and could not function by themselves and had to be carried. Sometimes percieved as an insult, usually a stereotype or label. Example: She was a complete basket case the morning of her wedding. Early wheel chairs were often woven reed/wicker material and resembled a “basket”. What does basket-case mean? … Learn more. green around the gills basket case basket case (Idiom, English) — 1 translation (Greek.) But she’s finally getting back to normal.” Notes: Originally this referred to soldiers who had lost arms and legs and had to be carried by others. Explore more Idiom Meanings. The term originated in America after the First World War, indicating a soldier missing both his arms and legs, who needed to be literally carried around in a litter or “basket” though there are no records of any soldiers being carried in baskets. The phrase was published in 1919 by the US Command for public information which denied that they have such service men or ‘basket cases’. basket case Meaning. a person who is helpless or incapable of functioning normally, especially due to overwhelming stress, anxiety, or the like. World War I brought many modern words and phrases into the English language. Starting in the 1950s, a "basket case" could be a vehicle that has missing parts or is in disrepair. 2 a person who is slightly crazy and who has problems dealing with situations: ‘How did the interview go?’ ‘Terrible! The Origin of “Catch-22” and Other Words and Phrases, The Absolute Legend That was Timothy Dexter- First in the East and West and Greatest Philosopher in the Western World, The Curious Case of Radioactive Apartments. The first citation of "basket case" in the Oxford English Dictionary is in 1919, soon after the end of World War I. In that case, the song is aptly named after the modern meaning of the phrase. The term “basket case” isn’t used anymore in that original sense; it refers now to an emotionally disturbed person or an ineffective organization, nation, business, and so on. pip-squeak) to 1910, and most sources agree that it is onomatopoeic, that is a word that is formed from a sound associated with what is named. What a basket case." a person who is very nervous, in bad shape. Today, of course, it has further evolved to mostly be a slang phrase for someone with a mental disability, or someone who seems to have been moved to act in a crazy fashion for whatever reason. It wasn’t until World War II that the phrase prominently resurfaced. Required fields are marked *. Whether they were literally carried around in baskets as the newspapers stated or the phrase originally was just referencing the then common colloquial idea of associating baskets with beggars or helplessness, given the grisly nature of the First World War and anecdotal reports, it seems plausible enough that there probably were at least some “basket cases,” despite the Surgeon General’s denial. For example, a baby bird might make noises that sound like a “pip” and “squeak” (squeak itself being an onomatopoeic). A basket of goods in the economic sense contains everyday products such as food, clothing, furniture, and a range of services. Origin 2Lts in most Commonwealth armies have a single Star of Bath (also called a ‘pip’ in military jargon) on their rank insignia. Example: The Greek economy took a nosedive after the 2008 world financial meltdown - to the point of becoming a total economic basket case. If you liked this article, you might also enjoy our new popular podcast, The BrainFood Show (iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, Feed), as well as: OED and others cite the first usage of pipsqueak (alt. Definition: A thing or person considered useless or not able to cope. "Basket of deplorables" is a phrase from a 2016 presidential election campaign speech delivered by Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on September 9, 2016, at a campaign fundraising event, which she used to describe half of the supporters of her opponent, Republican nominee Donald Trump saying "They're racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic". I read this book, one of the best about the war that I know of, decades ago. In the mid-1940s, "basket case" is used to refer to an ineffective or powerless person. Speculation does point to the use of 'bug' as something irritating as is the nature of insects. When I forgot to do my chores Dad gave me a bawling out. bug someone ❯❮ as calm as a toad in the sun, die hard Meaning: disappear or change very slowly, take a long time to cease to exist or be dropped from consideration. Here you can check out the meaning of Basket Case. Your email address will not be published. That may seem like a lot of work, but learning idioms is fun, especially when you compare English idioms to the idioms … In Australia, a popular term developed from World War I is “Anzac” which refers to the Australian and New Zealand Armed Corps. Another slightly less well-known usage of the phrase today is to describe a business or organization that has been rendered helpless in some way—such as becoming wrapped up in a court case or filing for bankruptcy. Basket Case is an idiom. What's the meaning of the phrase 'Basket case'? “Pipsqueak” was a type of small German gun used in the trenches during the war, as well as a term used to refer to a second lieutenant. He hasn't caught a mouse since he was a slip of a kitten. They come up all the time in both written and spoken English. Example: I was a real basket case when I arrived home after my long trip. The lower ranks simply had to make do. Where did it originate? The Idiom Attic - a collection of hundreds of English idioms, each one explained. A duplicate. This preview shows page 2 - 4 out of 4 pages.. English idioms A basket case A crazy person A bull in a china shop someone who is very clumsy A grey area Something unclear A little birdie told me Someone told me a secret A piece of cake Very easy A rip of Too expensive Be in hot water Be in trouble Be in the same boat A basket case A crazy I grew up understanding a “basket case” was someone in an institution for the mentally ill who was taught and practiced basket-weaving for therapeutic reasons. a bawling out. A basketcase is often independent and isolationist, in other words, anti-social. Basketcase synonyms, Basketcase pronunciation, Basketcase translation, English dictionary definition of Basketcase. Were you always this nervous in the old days? Subscribe to our new updates in your email. Today I found out how the phrase “basket case” came to mean “someone who is insane.”. From there, it comes to refer to a country or an organization that's having severe economic difficulties. according to Hoyle: Strictly by the rules: According to Hoyle, you are not allowed to enter this room. When this bulletin came out, many newspapers felt the need to define the phrase for their audiences, so apparently the phrase wasn’t widely used at this point. Baker (1992,pp.26-43) states that the main strategies in translating idioms are: 1) using an idiom of similar meaning and form to the source language idiom, ( It must convey roughly the same meaning and be of equivalent lexical items); 2) using an idiom of similar meaning but different form (In this case the lexical items of an idiom are not TRANSLATING IDIOMS IN … "Basket case" refers to a person who is viewed as emotionally unstable or even crazy. In this case, a basket is referring to an order that has at least a certain amount of securities in it and also has a minimum dollar amount, all executed at the same time. That Time the French Intentionally Bombed a Civilian Ship, What Those Nasty White Chunks That Sometimes Come From Your Throat Are, The Difference Between a Fact and a Factoid, Marilyn Monroe was Not Even Close to a Size 12-16, A Japanese Soldier Who Continued Fighting WWII 29 Years After the Japanese Surrendered, Because He Didn’t Know. The term basket case denotes someone, or something, that is incapable of functioning normally. Instead, it referred to someone who had a physical disability. Because idioms don't always make sense literally, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom.

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