whammy

Related to whammy: Press Your Luck

double whammy

A situation in which two negative things happen at the same time or in rapid succession. Jack suffered a double whammy when his car broke down the same day he lost his job.
See also: double, whammy

put the whammy on (one)

To curse one. A "whammy" is an evil spell typically bestowed upon one's enemies. I think my ex-girlfriend put the whammy on me or something, because I can't get a date anymore. My favorite team is playing for the championship, so I put the whammy on their opponents.
See also: on, put, whammy

triple whammy

A combination of three different elements, circumstances, or actions that results in a particularly powerful force, outcome, or effect. Deregulation of the financial sector, securitization of huge amounts of various debt, and fluctuating national interest rates formed a triple whammy that sent the stock market crashing.
See also: triple, whammy
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a double ˈwhammy

(informal) two unpleasant situations or events that happen at the same time and cause problems for somebody/something: With this government we’ve had a double whammy of tax increases and benefit cuts.This phrase comes from the 1950s American cartoon L’il Abner. One of the characters could shoot a whammy (= use magic power to make something bad happen to somebody) by pointing a finger with one eye open, or a double whammy with both eyes open.
See also: double, whammy
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

double whammy

(ˈdəblæ ˈʍæmi)
n. a double portion of something, especially something troublesome. (From Li’l Abner, a comic strip by Al Capp.) This morning was bad, but this afternoon the boss gave us a double whammy.
See also: double, whammy

triple whammy

(ˈtrɪplæ ˈʍæmi)
n. a powerful treatment; a powerful shock. The market crash, the trade figures, and the death of the secretary of defense was a powerful triple whammy in Washington politics this week.
See also: triple, whammy
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • a double whammy
  • double whammy
  • one-two punch
  • the old one-two (punch)
  • put the whammy on (one)
  • make rapid strides
  • hire and fire
  • turn and turn about
  • people processor
  • tick something off on your fingers
References in periodicals archive
Best Director: Whammy Alcazaren, "Never Tear Us Apart"
Big winners at Cinema One Originals 2018 film fest
Jury Prize: Never Tear us Apart by Whammy Alcazaren
'Paglisan,' 'Never Tear Us Apart' win big at Cinema One Originals 2018
The second whammy is the decision of the SSS to terminate the services of certain banks as depositories, or call it conduit, of SSS monthly pensions to retirees.
Rough Cuts / Many pensioners of SSS are in agony
A double whammy is a situation that is bad in two different ways: a situation in which two bad conditions exist at the same time or two bad things happen one after the other." (1) For example: "The high cost of health care and a lack of medical insurance is a double whammy." (2) A double whammy + 1 is a triple part difficulty; e.g.
A double whammy + 1
She said people would be hit with a "triple tax whammy" if they take their money out - on withdrawal, on the new investment and by the loss of the tax-free status the money had in the first place.
Tax warning over pension pot access; ECHO SHORTS
Besides lower sales, tablets running on Android OS outsold Apple's iPad in the country for the first time, representing the second whammy to hit Apple.
Tablet Sales in Australia Down 28%, Android Devices Outsell iPad
Reuters reported CEO Rupert Soames as saying: "We have got a double whammy going into next year.
Aggreko shares tumble on sales warning
The double whammy left Cole reeling - and means he will be landed with a PS240,000 club fine - two weeks' wages - as well as missing out on the chance of his 100th England cap against Poland in nine days' time.
COLE AXED; Ashley out of England side and suffers club fine for Twitter rant
BUS users face a double whammy of rising fares and cuts to services as council transport budgets are slashed by over pounds 500,000.
BUSES FACE THE AXE; And fares set to rocket as funding is slashed 27%
Eye salutes this as good news for the pay bargaining skills of manufacturers--but, coming as it does after two tough years where pay freezes have been the norm, it's not so good for engineers who are being hit by the triple whammy of rising prices for energy, food and transport.
Having been through the two busiest months for wage negotiations in manufacturing (January and April), the latest data allays fears that there are significant upward pressures on wage inflation
Drunk driving is a less appealing triple whammy: a totaled vehicle, lawsuits from injured parties, and a jail term.
The triple whammy: dangers of natural disasters in the US
ARTS organisations are facing the prospect of a double whammy of spending cuts which could be disastrous for their future, MPs warned today.
Arts groups face cuts double blow
Summary: Graduates face "triple whammy" of debt, higher interest rates and longer repayment periods if proposals to raise tuition fees go ahead.
Protests continue over tuition fee rise
IT'S a double whammy of cheery congratulations for two celebs today.
Everyone say Ahhh!
In the heat of the moment on election night Jason - who is not without experience in journalism - used the phrase 'double whammy'.
Give and take