Basket Case Definition

noun
One that is in a completely hopeless or useless condition.
A man who became a basket case after his divorce; a country that is an economic basket case.
American Heritage
A person lacking all four limbs.
Webster's New World
A person unable to function, esp. because of emotional disturbance.
Webster's New World
Anything that does not function properly.
Webster's New World

(idiomatic, slang, potentially offensive) One made powerless or ineffective, as by nerves, panic or stress.

She was a complete basket case the morning of her wedding.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Basket Case

Noun

Singular:
basket case
Plural:
basket-cases

Origin of Basket Case

  • The term originated from WWI, indicating a soldier missing both his arms and legs, who needed to be literally carried around in a litter or "basket." Today it indicates a state of helplessness similar to the metaphoric removal of the appendages, most frequently in the context of mental health or aptitude.

    From Wiktionary

  • Originally World War I military slang soldier who has lost all four limbs

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Basket Case Sentence Examples

  • Hannah would be a basket case if she only knew the extent of Katie.s issues!

  • With all you're got on your plate, being a basket case would be perfectly acceptable behavior.

  • They said he'd been a basket case for almost two months by the time he jumped.

  • Julie was a basket case when she learned she'd be required to transfer planes in Los Angeles.

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Words Starting With

BBABAS

Words Ending With

ESEASE

Unscrambles

basket case

Words Starting With B and Ending With E

Starts With B & Ends With EStarts With BA & Ends With EStarts With B & Ends With SE

Word Length

11 Letter Words11 Letter Words Starting With B11 Letter Words Ending With E