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

Hardly any of the characters — including, most inexcusably, the Devil herself — feel fleshed out, and the conflicts tend to sputter out with all the drama of a sat-upon whoopee cushion.

From Washington Post

Fifteen-time “SNL” host Martin returned to the show this weekend to support his “Only Murders in the Building” co-star, Gomez, by appearing in a digital short about the inventor of the whoopee cushion.

From Los Angeles Times

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

The Song Dynasty steamed bun is a low, unfilled dome the size of a whoopee cushion, stamped with the restaurant’s name in red Chinese characters; it’s completely plain and completely pleasurable, alone or dipped into its syrupy sauce.

From New York Times