Akademik

(buh.NAN.uh)

acronym.

Build absolutely nothing anywhere near anyone. A person who is opposed to new real estate development, particularly projects close to their neighbourhood. — adj.

But the naysayers never learn. No matter how much they like a building or a statue when it's finished, they still attack the next one with the same shrill sureness.

Their latest target is Luas.

Now, Dublin's light rail system is undoubtedly a good idea. Light rail works — check out Manchester — and our capital city needs public transport that gets priority over cars. Luas is a complex project that takes time and money.

Inevitably it's over-budget and late. Big deal, sensible people will conclude, it'll be worth the wait.

But that doesn't satisfy the BANANAs — those who say we should Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone.

— John Burns, "Can't see the point of new buildings? You're bananas," Sunday Times of London, July 6, 2003

David Taylor (Letters, January 23) does not appear to be aware that the NIMBY syndrome, with all its parochial overtones, has been superseded by the all embracing BANANA syndrome — Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone.

— David Williams, "Nowhere, no time," The Sydney Morning Herald, January 31, 1991

Two common alternative expansions for this acronym are "build absolutely nothing anywhere near anybody" and "build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything." A slightly less satisfying alternative is "build absolutely nothing at all, now or anytime."