Banjax

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈbæn.d͡ʒæks/, /bænˈd͡ʒæks/
• Rhymes: -æks

Alternative forms

• banjack
• bandjax

Origin

Unknown, perhaps originally Dublin slang.

Oxford English Dictionary, 2013.

Full definition of banjax

Verb

1. (British, originally Irish, slang) To ruin or destroy.
• For more quotes, see the
• 1928, Eimar O'Duffy, The Spacious Adventures of the Man in the Street, Macmillan, p. 370,Indeed, it seemed that the army was hopelessly banjaxed.
• 1970 (2001 reprint), Edna O'Brien, A Pagan Place, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, p. 91,Emma had suggested that you hide, said your presence might banjax her position.
• 2006, Craig Ferguson, Between the Bridge and the River, Chronicle Books, p. 252,Fraser was looking at the flat, wet countryside and thinking about the French policeman who had banjaxed him with the truncheon.

Noun

1. (chiefly Irish, informal) A mess or undesirable situation made as a result of incompetence.
• 1922, Seán O'Casey, Juno and the Paycock (play),I'm tellin' you the scholar, Bentham, made a banjax o' th' Will.