Phrase guide

double whammy

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌdʌbl̩ ˈ(h)wæmi/
  • General-American: /ˌdʌb(ə)l ˈ(h)wæmi/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -æmi

1

noun

Meaning 1

A series of two events that causes adverse effects; a twofold blow or setback.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A series of two events that causes positive effects; a twofold boon.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

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).

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Georgian: ორმაგი დარტყმა (ormagi darṭq̇ma) — series of two events that causes adverse effects
  • Russian: двойной удар (dvojnoj udar) — series of two events that causes adverse effects
  • Spanish: carambola — series of two events that causes positive effects
  • Spanish: dupleta — series of two events that causes positive effects
  • Spanish: doblete — series of two events that causes positive effects