Alpine republic
noun1
Informal A republic in the Alps; usually Switzerland or Austria.
Often journalistic
- The normally sleepy Alpine republic has just experienced the worst three weeks in its post-war history after the election of a coalition of the Freedom party and the conservative People's party under the leadership of Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel.2000 February 29, Kate Connolly, “No way out”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
- But after days of turmoil that upended old certainties about the Alpine republic, it is the two snarling dragon gargoyles, restrained by chains, that ominously sum up the state of the nation.2023 March 22, Philip Oltermann, “Switzerland’s national pride dealt heavy blow by the merger of its banking titans”, in The Guardian, →ISSN: