Phrase guide

banana skin

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The outer skin of a banana, especially once removed from the rest of the banana, which may be slippery if stepped on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A cause of difficulty, or potential embarrassment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK

Examples

  • The subject is becoming a political banana skin.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the skin of a banana (especially when it is stripped off and discarded)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he slipped on a banana skin and almost fell

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: banana peel

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: peel, skin

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.