whammy
noun/ˈwæmi/
/ˈwæmi/
(plural whammies)
(informal)- an unpleasant situation or event that causes problems for somebody/something
- a triple whammy of labour shortages, supply chain woes and inflation
- US oil producing companies are expected to feel a whammy from falling oil prices.
Word Origin1940s: from the noun wham + -y; associated from the 1950s with the cartoon strip Li'l Abner, in which the hillbilly Evil-Eye Fleegle could ‘shoot a whammy’ (to put a curse on somebody) by pointing a finger with one eye open, and a ‘double whammy’ with both eyes open.Want to learn more?
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