double whammy en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˌdʌb(ə)l ˈ(h)wæmi/ (General-American)
- /ˌdʌbl̩ ˈ(h)wæmi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (General-American) audio
Etymology
From double + whammy (“evil spell; curse or hex”), popularized by the American cartoonist Al Capp (1909–1979), in his classic comic strip Li’l Abner (1934–1977).
Meanings
-
(informal) A series of two events that causes adverse effects; a twofold blow or setback.
Martinez is fouled before Zico's disallowed goal. His shirt is pulled and his foot is trodden on as he tries to continue his run. A double whammy. Egypt can have few complaints.
2026 July 8, Steve Luckings, “Are Egypt right to blame officials (and Fifa) for their World Cup exit?”, in The National:
- (broadly, informal) A series of two events that causes positive effects; a twofold boon.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| double-whammy | alternative | lexicographic | |
| double whammies | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
double-trouble · triple whammy
Translations (5)
es dupleta (series of two events that causes positive effects) · es doblete (series of two events that causes positive effects) · ka ორმაგი დარტყმა (series of two events that causes adverse effects) · ru двойной удар (series of two events that causes adverse effects) · es carambola (series of two events that causes positive effects)