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.

---

whoopee cushion British  

noun

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

---

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

Second place receives a genuine whoopee cushion, that venerable, ever-so-droll idiocy aid that emits a “braaap!” fart noise when it’s sat on.

From Washington Post • Sep. 22, 2022

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

“Play momentarily stopped at Alexandra Palace. Looks like someone has planted a whoopee cushion inside the arena and it keeps going off making a ‘poooooop’ sound.

From The Guardian • Jan. 19, 2020

It made a noise like a whoopee cushion.

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