whammy

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wham·my

(wăm′ē, hwăm′ē)

n. pl. wham·mies Slang

1. A supernatural spell for subduing an adversary; a hex: put the whammy on someone.

2. A serious or devastating setback: "The triple whammy: government cuts, declining corporate giving, and less favorable tax laws" (New York Times).

[Perhaps from wham.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

whammy

(ˈwæmɪ)

n, pl -mies

1. something which has great, often negative, impact: the double whammy of high interest rates and low wage increases.

2. (Alternative Belief Systems) an evil spell or curse: she was convinced he had put the whammy on her.

[C20: wham + -y²]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

wham•my

(ˈʰwæm i, ˈwæm i)

n., pl. -mies. Slang.

1. the evil eye; hex.

2. a devastating blow, setback, or catastrophe.

[1935–40; wham + -y², one of the methods of putting a whammy on someone being to strike the fist into the palm]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	whammy - a serious or devastating setback setback, reversal, reverse, black eye, blow - an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating
	2.	whammy - an evil spell; "a witch put a curse on his whole family"; "he put the whammy on me" hex, jinx, curse magic spell, magical spell, charm, spell - a verbal formula believed to have magical force; "he whispered a spell as he moved his hands"; "inscribed around its base is a charm in Balinese"

whammy

noun

Slang. An object or power that one uses to cause often evil events:

charm, evil eye, magic, spell.

Translations

whammy

[ˈwæmɪ] N (US) → mala sombra f, mala suerte f, mala pata f
see also double F

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

whammy

n a double/triple whammy → ein doppelter/dreifacher Schlag

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

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References in periodicals archive ?

The TUC said many apprentices are facing a "double whammy" of low pay and high travel costs.

Government urged to help apprentices go distance

Banks o' Dee co-boss Jamie Watt thinks the "double whammy" of a red card and aberdeen goal ended his team's Evening Express aberdeenshire Cup hopes.

Damage limitation in wake of 'double whammy'

The labor market data revision reveals more counties with 1) fewer jobs than at the beginning of the Great Recession, 2) fewer jobs than last year and 3) more "double whammy' counties.

New data: More than half of North Carolina counties have fewer jobs than in 2007

The council have found a loophole and if it goes through they will have scored a double whammy on the back of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Brainless to bring in tourist [...]; Get in touch - tell us what you think Email: letters@birminghammail.co.uk Twitter: @birminghammail Facebook: facebook.com/birminghammail Post: Birmingham Mail, 60 Church Street, Birmingham B3 2DJ

Whammy Alcazaren's family drama "Never Tear Us Apart" and Carl Papa's musical animation "Paglisan" won the most number of awards in the Cinema One Originals 2018 film festival, which culminated at the awards night held at Dolphy Theater over the weekend.

Big winners at Cinema One Originals 2018 film fest

'Never Tear Us Apart,' a drama film by Whammy Alcazaren and shot with iPhones, brought home the most awards with Alcazaren also named as Best Director.

'Paglisan,' 'Never Tear Us Apart' win big at Cinema One Originals 2018

This year millions of SSS pensioners are hit by a double whammy.

Rough Cuts / Many pensioners of SSS are in agony

The government's move to return the sales and services tax (SST) will result in a 'double whammy' for the public in terms of cost of living, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.

Najib: SST will be a 'double whammy' for cost of living

The first whammy was drought (now reversed), second the credit squeeze (the CS Treasury seems to be threading the needle) and the third whammy was not one but two elections.

Rolling up boycott wise, shows Raila ready for reconciliation

ISLAMABAD -- Turns out, rush-hour commuters may be in for a double whammy of pollution exposure.

Rush-hour pollution may be more harmful than thought

[USA], Jul 22 (ANI): Turns out, rush-hour commuters may be in for a double whammy of pollution exposure.

Rush-hour pollution may be more harmful than thought

The ex-deputy PM said the Tesco "Marmite war" was the tip of the iceberg, with chocolate, cheese and wine likely to be hit by a "triple whammy".