VOA词汇掌故2024--When Is Two Too Many? When It's a 'Double Whammy'!

When Is Two Too Many? When It's a 'Double Whammy'!

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

On this program, we explore words and expressions in the English language. We give definitions, examples and notes on usage¹.

Today we talk about a word with an unusual history - whammy. A whammy can be a magical spell that brings bad luck. It can also be an attack or a damaging, destructive² blow. A blow is an incident or event that hits you hard.

So, one whammy is bad. But what happens when you have two?

That is called a double whammy.

People traditionally say they have been hit with a double whammy!"

The online dictionary Merriam-Webster defines³ a double whammy as a combination of two usually unfavorable forces, circumstances, or effects. Two bad things happen at the same time to make something really unpleasant or difficult.

It can also mean that two bad things happen consecutively⁴, or one after the other.

The origin of the expression is unclear. Some guess it comes from taking the word "wham" which describes a hard punch or blow and adding a -y ending which makes it sound funny.

Others say the cartoonist Al Capp popularized the word whammy in his 1950s comic strip Li'l Abner. A character named Evil-Eye Fleegle could stop someone by simply looking at them. The single whammy was a look with one eye, and the feared double whammy used both eyes.

Now, let's listen to the expression used in a sentence.

Today, my friend Jonah lost his job. And then, on the way home, he fell and broke his leg. Talk about a double whammy! It has NOT been his best day.

Here is another example of the expression double whammy.

On their 3-hour hiking trip, the friends were hit with a double whammy. The first was a bad rainstorm. They were forced to take shelter in a cave. Then they realized the second bad thing. They left all their food and water in the car.

There is another English expression that has a similar meaning - a one-two punch. The first punch is a difficult blow to take, but then the second one aims to finish the job. The expression comes from boxing where one punch is quickly followed by another from the other fist, or closed hand.

A boxer⁵ using a one-two punch is trying to knock out their opponent or to score points.

Both double whammy and one-two punch are informal expressions. One-two punch might be less popular than it once was. But double whammy appears in some surprising places in both American and British English.

Words in This Story

spell -n. magic that used on a person, often to create a bad or damaging effect

circumstance -n. a situation

consecutively -adv. taking place one after another in a series

origin -n. the beginning point of something

punch -n. the act of striking⁶ with a closed hand, or fist

cartoonist -n. a person who draws simple pictures that tell stories

comic strip -n. a series of pictures telling, often funny, stories that appears in newspapers or books as a series that continues for a time

character -n. a person who appears in stories, plays, movies or TV who is not real

knock out -v. to strike a person so that they lose consciousness or cannot continue

1 usage   

n.惯用法，使用，用法

参考例句：

• I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
• The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。

2 destructive   

adj.破坏（性）的，毁灭（性）的

参考例句：

• In the end,it will be destructive of our whole society.它最终会毁灭我们整个社会。
• It is the most destructive storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的一次风暴。

3 defines   

规定( define的第三人称单数 )； 使明确； 精确地解释； 画出…的线条

参考例句：

• This name defines us all. 这个名字造就了我们。 来自演讲部分
• The range of incomes over which this happens defines the 'poverty trap'. 发生在这种情况的收入范围，称为“贫困陷阱。”

4 consecutively   

adv.连续地

参考例句：

• He was actually too depleted to think consecutively about anything. 他已经打不起一点精神，根本谈不上好好思考一下。 来自辞典例句
• In any game, the right to serve shall pass consecutively. 在一局中，不错的发球挨次应该是。 来自互联网

5 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。

6 striking   

adj.显著的，惹人注目的，容貌出众的

参考例句：

• There is a striking difference between Jane and Mary.简和玛丽之间有显著的差异。
• What is immediately striking is how resourceful the children are.最令人注目的是孩子们的机智聪明。