double whammy

American  

[duhb-uhl wam-ee, hwam-ee] / ˈdʌb əl ˈwæm i, ˈʰwæm i /

noun

Informal.

1. two devastating problems, setbacks, or catastrophes.

   The double whammy of insomnia and sleep apnea can make a night's rest almost impossible.

2. any doubled quantity or set of two.

   Visiting the sandwich shop and the ice cream shop makes a delightful savory-sweet double whammy for lunch.

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Etymology

Origin of double whammy

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

One of the biggest hits to the Mideast export machine, and an upward spur for a range of commodity prices, was the closing early in the war of liquefied natural gas production at Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar—the result of a double whammy of the Hormuz closure and missile strikes from Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal

That could mean a double whammy for children’s birthday parties.

From The Wall Street Journal

She said this represents a “double whammy” — in a positive sense — for many parts of the market in Europe.

From MarketWatch

They scored twice in four minutes, a double whammy that put them in front.

From BBC

But it suffered a double whammy.

From The Wall Street Journal