Quel Panama!

French

Etymology

From the collapse of the Panama Company, under Lesseps, one of the largest corporate collapses in history, when it failed to build the Panama Canal at the end of the 19th century. Literally, “What a Panama!”.

Interjection

Quel Panama!

1. (France, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, New Caledonia, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Réunion, West Africa, historical, early 20th c.) what a mess; what a boondoggle; what a disaster

See also

• canal de Panama
• Panama