bananas

Related to bananas: go bananas

a few bananas short of a bunch

A derogatory phrase meaning not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets—I think he may be a few bananas short of a bunch. Every time Paul tells me about his latest conspiracy theory, I can't help thinking that he's a few bananas short of a bunch.
See also: bananas, bunch, few, of, short

banana

offensive slang An ethnic slur for an American of Southeast Asian parentage or ancestry who adopts the speech, clothing, behavior, beliefs, and values typical of Caucasian Americans. The term refers to the idea that such a person is "yellow" (a common slur for the appearance of Southeast Asians) on the outside but "white" (Caucasian) on the inside. Primarily heard in US. You've turned into such a banana since you moved to Silicon Valley, David. Have you completely forgotten what it means to be Vietnamese? I was born in the US, yet I get called a "banana" for embracing the culture of the only country I know—it's so frustrating.

cool bananas

Awesome! Great! You want me to go to the concert with you? Cool bananas, I'm in!
See also: bananas, cool

go bananas

1. To become irrational or crazy. I'll end up going bananas if I have to work in this cubicle for one more day!
2. To express great excitement about something in an exuberant manner. The kids are going to go bananas when we tell them about the trip.
See also: bananas, go

go bananas over (something)

To express great excitement about something in an exuberant manner. She totally went bananas over that wedding dress, so I think it's the one she's ultimately going to pick.
See also: bananas, go, over

I don't buy green bananas

One does not invest in things that take a long time to yield profits or results (a reference to the time it takes for green bananas to ripen). Typically said by older people who may not have many years of life left. A: "You should take up a hobby now that you're retired, Grandma! Learn a new language or something!" B: "Ah, no, I'm at the point in my life that I don't buy green bananas anymore. I don't have any opinion of my son's plans for the business. Everything he's talking about is going to take 10 or 15 years—I'm nearly 90, I don't buy green bananas!
See also: bananas, buy, green

second banana

1. A performer who acts as a support to a lead comedian (the so-called "top banana"), as during a burlesque or vaudeville routine. I generally don't mind playing second banana when I'm with such a legendary comedian, but it would be nice to be the one getting all the laughs once in a while.
2. By extension, someone who occupies a secondary, lesser, or subservient role or position. I've been second banana in this company for too long now. I'm going to start up my own business, and then I'll be the one in charge!
See also: banana, second
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

go bananas

Sl. to go mildly crazy. Sorry, I just went bananas for a minute. I thought he was going to go bananas.
See also: bananas, go
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

drive someone crazy

Also, drive someone mad or bananas or bonkers or nuts or up the wall ; drive someone to drink. Greatly exasperate someone, annoy to distraction. For example, His habitual lateness drives me crazy, or Apologizing over and over drives me bananas, or These slovenly workmen drive me up the wall, or Your nagging is driving me to drink. All of these hyperbolic expressions describe a person's extreme frustration, supposedly to the point of insanity ( crazy, mad, nuts, bonkers, and bananas all mean "insane"); up the wall alludes to climbing the walls to escape and to drink to imbibing alcohol to induce oblivion.
See also: crazy, drive, someone

go bananas

Act crazy, as in When it comes to animal rights, some people go bananas. According to the lexicographer J. E. Lighter, this expression may allude to the similar go ape, in that apes and other primates are closely associated with eating bananas. [Slang; second half of 1900s]
See also: bananas, go

second banana

see under top banana.
See also: banana, second
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

second banana

mainly AMERICAN, INFORMAL
1. If you call something or someone second banana you mean they are the next most important or popular person or thing after the most important or popular person or thing. While hockey is king in Canada, the sport has to play second banana south of the border to Major League Baseball.
2. A second banana is a performer who performs with someone else who has a bigger part in the performance. Carney returned to radio as second banana on comedy shows. Compare with play second fiddle.
See also: banana, second

go bananas

INFORMAL
If someone goes bananas, they become very angry, upset or excited. I tried to ask about Jack. She went bananas. She sobbed and howled. The audience went bananas — anything for a bit of excitement.
See also: bananas, go

go bananas over something

INFORMAL
If you go bananas over something, you become very enthusiastic about it. Everyone went bananas over his new TV show.
See also: bananas, go, over, something
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

go bananas

1 become extremely angry or excited. 2 go mad. informal
1 1992 Jim Lehrer A Bus of My Own I predicted John Erlichman would probably go bananas when he testified the next day.
See also: bananas, go

second banana

the second most important person in an organization or activity. informal, chiefly North American
See also: banana, second
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

go baˈnanas

(slang) become angry, crazy or silly: If I’m late again my Dad’ll go bananas. The clock’s going bananas (= isn’t working correctly).
See also: bananas, go
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

banana

n. an American of East Asian descent who acts too much like a Caucasian. (see also apple. Rude and derogatory.) Stop acting like such a banana!

bananas

1. mod. crazy. (Often with go, see also go bananas.) You were bananas before I ever showed up on the scene.
2. mod. enthusiastic. The audience was bananas over the new star.

Cool beans!

and Cool bananas!
exclam. Wow! Cool beans, man. That’s great! I won again! Cool bananas!
See also: cool

Cool bananas!

verb
See Cool beans!
See also: cool

go bananas

in. to go mildly crazy. (see also bananas.) I thought he was going to go bananas.
See also: bananas, go
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

go ape, to

To act frenzied with delight, fury, or some other strong emotion. Why such behavior should be described as apelike is not known. The slangy term dates from about 1950 and is used in such contexts as “The audience went ape over the new jazz combo,” or “The school board goes ape over the very mention of budget cuts.” A related and possibly derivative cliché is to go bananas, with roughly the same meaning. It dates from the 1960s. The National Public Radio show All Things Considered had it: “When you mention the word ‘nuclear,’ people start to go bananas” (April 13, 1983). See also go ballistic.
See also: go
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a few eggs short of a dozen
  • a few bananas short of a bunch
  • a few cards short of a (full) deck
  • a few cards shy of a (full) deck
  • be a waste of space
  • carry a Chinaman on (one's) back
  • have a Chinaman at (one's) neck
  • have a Chinaman on (one's) back
  • Chinaman's chance
  • Chinaman's chance, he hasn't a/not a
References in periodicals archive
The Department of Agriculture and local banana industry stakeholders are keen on maintaining the country's stature as the world's second-largest exporter of bananas.
China continues to buy more PHL bananas
The Kisii county government officials and farmers, led by their Agriculture chief officer Naomi okaya, visited Meru to learn about banana value addition chain.
Meru moves to beat banana brokers
'What is alarming is that they have been pirating a lot of our technical people,' Antig said, adding that if the situation continues, the local banana industry will suffer as companies from neighboring countries are offering lucrative pay to really entice the workers.
Banana industry hounded by brain drain: Executive
Banana Wave is a banana based beverage maid with oat milk.
Banana Wave is now offered Nationwide through Mr.Checkout's Direct Store Delivery Distributors
Properly stocked bananas can remain in good quality for about six weeks.
Ministry: Cambodia now able to directly export yellow bananas to China
Piaol said he would present to Japanese officials the new protocols and assessment process implemented by the Philippine government and the banana exporters to assure them Filipino bananas comply with their food safety standards.
Philippines seeks easier entry of banana exports to Japan
Here's a simple, no-bake way to enhance bananas. Coated with honey and sprinkled with flaxseeds and sesame seeds, they look delightful and appetizing.
'SEEDY' BANANA STICKS: ELEVATING THE HUMBLE FRUIT
Anaemia High in organic iron (inorganic is used in supplements), bananas can stimulate production of haemoglobin, which transports oxygen around the body.
Live healthy with Heather
"I plant the bananas by first digging holes that measure 90cm by 90cm by 60cm then I put in 20kg of animal manure.MOLES' THREATI, thereafter, mix with the soil and then plant the banana stems," says Munuve, noting the bananas start fruiting at six months.
A gamble with bananas after maize failure pays off for farmer
Taiwan's Agriculture and Food Agency said bananas can be grown in Taiwan all year round and that Taiwan bananas have a good flavor.
MoU to be signed for exporting Taiwan's bananas to Japan
The team helped carry this trend with more dugout antics from using bananas as mustaches and radar guns to spraying them with bug spray and sunscreen.
RALLY BANANA: Mississippi State's play for the College World Series was wrapped in maroon and white and a bit of banana
Up to the 1950s, the Gros Michel was the most popular strain of banana - those who tried the bananas before the war may remember it as sweeter and more tasty than the modern cultivar.
The great British BANANA! how a coventry politician introduced the fruit to the world
First there were avocados with no stones ; now we have bananas with edible skin.
Japanese farmers invent edible banana skin
Summary: If you don't like bananas then read no more - if you do then today is a day of joy
Appeeling? Japanese farmers invent edible banana skin