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basket case

In World War 1, a victim who had one or more severed limbs. They were brought off the field in a “basket”.

Etymology:

  • Etymology. 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.
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The horrible accident left the driver as a “basket case”.

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Submitted by rogerssanford on September 24, 2020

Additional definitions for 'basket case':

basket caseOne made powerless or ineffective, as by nerves, panic or stress.
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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to basket case

given a basket to carry waterhell in a hand basketas the case may befederal casecase in pointall one's eggs in one basketget on someone's casebawdy basketbasket housecase in pointcase closedget on somebody's caseI rest my caseall one's eggs in one basket

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    "basket case." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/basket-case_62417>.

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