fiasko

Fiasko is a noun used in Polish to denote a complete or spectacular failure, especially of plans, events, or ventures. It functions as a loanword in Polish and some other languages, roughly equivalent to the English term fiasco or disaster. In Polish usage, fiasko emphasizes a marked, often embarrassing failure.

The word originates from Italian fiasco, whose primary sense is a bottle wrapped in wicker. The metaphorical extension to meaning "disaster" or "complete failure" spread into several languages, with Polish adopting the form fiasko. In German, for example, the cognate Fiasko is used with the same meaning, and Polish borrowed the term with similar sense.

In Polish, fiasko is common in journalism, business reporting, and everyday speech. The expression ponieść fiasko means to suffer a fiasco or to fail completely. Phrases such as fiasko projektu or fiasko kampanii are used to describe failed plans or campaigns. While closely related to the English fiasco, fiasko is generally used as a native or borrowed noun rather than a direct translation of an English phrase.

The term is used to describe outcomes that fall short of expectations, often implying a notable or embarrassing level of failure in various contexts, including politics, business, culture, and public events.