double whammy

[duhb-uhl wam-ee, hwam-ee]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of double whammy¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

That confidence, however, didn’t extend to Wall Street, which zeroed in on a double whammy of Wednesday’s lower-than-expected quarterly earnings and weaker outlook for the fiscal year.

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“Californians are going to be facing a double whammy: premiums going up and tax credits going away,” Altman said.

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Also see: Stock market faces midweek double whammy as Fed decision collides with megacap tech earnings.

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Read: Stock market faces midweek double whammy as Fed decision collides with megacap tech earnings.

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The stock market’s record-setting rally faces a midweek double whammy as a pivotal Federal Reserve’s interest-rate decision collides with a flood of megacap tech earnings — all unfolding against the backdrop of a prolonged government shutdown.

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