basket case

1. (colloquial, historical, offensive)Someone (especially a soldier) who has lost all four limbs.

2. (colloquial)An institution or country in a bad condition or difficult situation (economically, financially or otherwise).

   This country is a financial basket case, a country so broke that it should be a perfect warning to lenders.

   Some countries are breadbaskets, others basket cases.

   hoffnungsloser Fall

3. (colloquial)One made powerless or ineffective, as by nerves, panic, stress or exhaustion; someone considered mentally unstable.

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

   Nervenbündel

4. (colloquial)An item in a disassembled state that is brought to be repaired.

1. Tom is a basket case.

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2. Tom said you were a basket case.

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3. She's a basket case.

   ruОна ненормальная.

   deSie ist ein hoffnungsloser Fall.

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4. I'm not a basket case.

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5. I don't like seeming pessimistic, but John's a total basket case. He's not just useless either. He's lost his mind!

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