basket case

bas·ket case

B b

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [bas-kit, bah-skit keys]
- /ˈbæs kɪt, ˈbɑ skɪt keɪs/
- /ˈbɑː.skɪt keɪs/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [bas-kit, bah-skit keys]
- /ˈbæs kɪt, ˈbɑ skɪt keɪs/

Definitions of basket case words

countable noun basket case If someone describes a country or organization as a basket case, they mean that its economy or finances are in a seriously bad state. 3
countable noun basket case If you describe someone as a basket case, you think that they are insane. 3
noun basket case a person who is suffering from extreme nervous strain; nervous wreck 3
noun basket case a person who has had both arms and both legs amputated 3
noun basket case someone or something that is incapable of functioning normally 3
noun basket case (as modifier) 3

See all 17 definitions of basket case

Information block about the term

Origin of basket case

First appearance:

before 1915

One of the 14% newest English words

First recorded in 1915-20

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Basket case

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Basket case

basket case popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 31% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

According to our data about 59% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

basket case usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for basket case

noun basket case

nervous wreck — sb anxious
ninnyhammer — a fool or simpleton; ninny.
spastic — Pathology. pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by spasm, especially tonic spasm.
spaz — an awkward or clumsy person.

All 4 Synonyms of basket case