2016年8月4日 星期四

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
twofold blow or setback:a double whammy of taxation and price increases

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.
2chiefly US An evil or unlucky influence:I’ve come to put the whammy on them

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.

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