Whammy: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ’ฅ
Add to dictionary

whammy

 

[ หˆwรฆmi ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

informal context

The term 'whammy' refers to a powerful, often negative influence or effect that causes misfortune or trouble. It is often used in a colloquial sense to describe an unexpected setback or failure, particularly in games or competitions. The phrase 'double whammy' is commonly used to denote a situation where two negative events occur simultaneously. The use of 'whammy' conveys a sense of surprise and impact, suggesting a force that dramatically alters a situation.

Synonyms

blow, curse, jinx, misfortune

Examples of usage

  • He hit the jackpot, but then a financial whammy struck.
  • Losing the match was a real whammy for the team.
  • She faced a double whammy of bad luck when both her car broke down and she lost her job.

Translations

Translations of the word "whammy" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น azar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฆเฅ‹เคท

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Unglรผck

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ sial

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฝะตะฒะดะฐั‡ะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ pech

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ไธ้‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท malchance

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ desgracia

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท ลŸanssฤฑzlฤฑk

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ถˆ์šด

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุญุธ ุณูŠุก

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ neลกtฤ›stรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ neลกลฅastie

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅŽ„่ฟ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ nesreฤa

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ รณheppni

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัำ™ั‚ัั–ะทะดั–ะบ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒซแƒแƒšแƒแƒ“แƒแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ bษ™xtsizlik

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ desgracia

Etymology

The word 'whammy' is believed to have originated in American English, possibly in the late 20th century, and is thought to be derived from the phrase 'wham,' which denotes a sudden impact or blow. Its usage has been popularized through various media, including music and television. The association of 'whammy' with bad luck and misfortune may stem from its idiomatic context in games, where an unexpected negative event can change the outcome dramatically. The term became widely recognized through its use in popular culture, including the game show 'The Price Is Right,' where 'whammy' referred to a character that would take away contestants' winnings. Today, it continues to be used informally across various contexts to convey unexpected setbacks or negative influences.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,553, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.