Phrase guide
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.
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noun
A country or organization that is poorly run by leaders who lack the expertise to cope with the problems that arise and equally inexpert subjects or members who attempt to influence those leaders.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
From ship + of + fools, a calque of German Narrenschiff. From a German poem named "Narrenschiff", published in 1494 by Sebastian Brant, about a ship carrying 112 passengers, each of whom represents a specific human foible, which sails into oblivion. The poem was translated into English in 1509 by Alexander Barclay. Brant may have been inspired by an allegory that first appeared in Book VI of Plato's Republic, about a ship with a dysfunctional crew.
Across languages
3 source translations are retained for this English entry.
