whoopee cushion

American  

Or whoopie cushion

noun

1. a type of cushion or pillow used as a practical joke that, when sat upon, produces a loud noise resembling flatulence.

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whoopee cushion British  

noun

1. a joke cushion that emits a sound like the breaking of wind when someone sits on it

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Etymology

Origin of whoopee cushion

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Park handles this dark subject with all the delicacy of a whoopee cushion, aiming for outsized, slapstick laughs that will appeal to both Korean and international audiences.

From Salon • Oct. 7, 2025

Either toss a banana peel down the aisle as the president walks in, slip a whoopee cushion under the vice president’s seat, or sit quietly and watch the speech.

From Slate • Mar. 5, 2022

If I sit down will there not be a loud squeaky fart and a whoopee cushion beneath me?

From The Guardian • Apr. 4, 2019

The comic potential of Gustav and Laird’s sparring matches, for instance, deflates faster than a whoopee cushion.

From Washington Post • Dec. 21, 2016

It made a noise like a whoopee cushion.

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein