Banana

banana

A banana is a popular tropical fruit that has a nice, mild flavor. Bananas are used in food preparation:

• Some people put banana slices on their breakfast cereal.
• A banana split is made with vanilla ice cream, fudge sauce, strawberry and pineapple toppings, and bananas.
• Banana bread includes bananas as ingredients.
• Many people just peel a banana and eat it.

The word "banana" or "bananas" is also used to describe a person’s state of mind.

• People are going bananas over the new iPhone. (They are very excited about the new iPhone.)
• That woman is bananas. (She’s crazy.)
• This is making me bananas. (This is frustrating.)

The term banana republic has been used in the past to describe countries in Central and South America that have limited economic means (such as banana or oil exports) and are subject to constant political upheaval.

• Venezuela has a reputation for being a banana republic.
• Guatemala was once considered to be a banana republic, but the political and economic situations there have improved.
• Many banana republics have experimented with communism or militarism.

Note: The term "banana republic" may be considered insulting or demeaning of the countries to which it is applied; however, it’s still important to know that the term is used among many people in the United States. Nowadays, the United States, under the leadership of Donald Trump, has been jokingly referred to as a banana republic, whether that’s true or not.

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August 2, 2017