whammy, double whammy

For Economy, Aging Population Poses Double Whammy  New research shows rapid retirements deprive companies of critical experience and knowledge, undermining productivity across the economy, Greg Ip writes. double whammy NOUN informal A twofold blow or setback:a double whammy of taxation and price increases More example sentences Origin 1950s: originally with reference to the comic strip Li'l Abner (see whammy). whammy  Pronunciation: /ˈwami/  NOUN (plural whammies) informal 1An event with a powerful and unpleasant effect; a blow:the third whammy was the degradation of the financial systemSee also double whammy. More example sentences 2chiefly US An evil or unlucky influence:I’ve come to put the whammy on them More example sentences Origin 1940s: from the noun wham + -y1; associated from the 1950s with the cartoon strip Li'l Abner, in which the hillbilly Evil-Eye Fleegle could ‘shoot a whammy’ (to put a curse on somebody) by pointing a finger with one eye open, and a 'double whammy' with both eyes open.