Basket case

Meaning

The idiom "basket case" is a derogatory term used to describe someone who is extremely weak or helpless. It can also refer to someone who is incompetent, lazy, or unmotivated. The figurative meaning of the idiom is that the person is like an empty basket, unable to hold anything of value or importance.

Usage

• "I don't know why he was hired for this job. He's a complete basket case."
• "After his injury, he became a basket case and couldn't do anything for himself."
• "He's such a lazy person. I call him a basket case because he doesn't even try to contribute anything."
• "She's been on bed rest for weeks now. She's like a basket case, she can barely move."
• "The project was a complete disaster. It was like a basket case, with everyone working in different directions and no clear plan."

Roots and History

The exact origin of the idiom is unclear, but it has been used since at least the 18th century. One theory suggests that it comes from the practice of transporting people who were injured or sick in baskets. The basket would be carried by others, making the person inside helpless and dependent. Another theory suggests that it comes from the idea of a basket being empty and useless.

Synonyms in English

• Wreck
• Mess
• Disaster
• Mishap
• Fiasco

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "catafalque" meaning funeral bier, used to describe someone who is extremely weak or helpless.
• French: "corps mort" meaning dead body, used to describe someone who is extremely sick or injured.
• German: "toter Leichnam" meaning dead body, used to describe someone who is extremely sick or injured.
• Italian: "morto" meaning dead, used to describe someone who is extremely sick or injured.
• Japanese: "ぎっちうと見る" meaning someone who looks like they're about to die, used to describe someone who is extremely weak or helpless.

Similar Idioms

• bell the cat

• bang head against wall

• brown study