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banana republic

A small country, especially one in Central America, that is dependent on a single export commodity (traditionally bananas) and that has a corrupt, dictatorial government.

Etymology:

  • Coined by American author O. Henry in his 1904 book of short stories, "Cabbages and Kings", set in the fictional "Anchuria", which was based on his 1896-97 stay in Honduras.
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Submitted on July 07, 2010

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բանան հանրապետություն

банановая республика

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to banana republic

top bananamake like a banana and splitbanana nosehe went a bananapeople's republicbanana splitbanana noseone-banana problemhave one foot on a banana peelpeople's republicpeople's republicsecond bananatop bananasecond banana

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