double-whammy
Two consecutive setbacks
A double-whammy is two pieces of bad luck or two setbacks striking at once, compounding each other's impact: The factory closure was a double-whammy—they lost their jobs and their health insurance.
The term comes from the comic strip Li'l Abner, where a whammy was an evil-eye curse, and a double-whammy was twice as potent.
Now used broadly for any one-two punch of misfortune.
Reverse in progress
- blowMove air forcefully
- bad luckUnfavorable chance events
- one-two punchSequential paired attack
- unluckyProne to misfortune
disaster · calamity · hardship · trouble · adversity · curse · jinx · streak
Joining of multiple elements
- simultaneousHappening at same time
- twofoldConsisting of two parts
- dualHaving two parts
- back-to-backOccurring in direct succession
consecutive · compound · multiplied · amplified · stacked · layered · cumulative · synergistic
Prolonged economic decline
- inflationSustained price level increase
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- tax hikeRaised government levy
- market crashSudden market decline
cost increase · budget cut · downturn · price surge · wage freeze · debt · deficit · austerity
Identification of illness
- symptomsIndicators of disease
- side effectsUnintended treatment consequences
- comorbiditySimultaneous presence of diseases
- complicationsDifficulties that emerge unexpectedly
condition · illness · chronic · acute · relapse · flare-up · deterioration · prognosis
setback
Reverse in progress
- blowMove air forcefully
- bad luckUnfavorable chance events
- one-two punchSequential paired attack
unlucky · disaster · calamity · hardship · trouble · adversity · curse · jinx · streak · unfortunate
combination
Joining of multiple elements
- simultaneousHappening at same time
- twofoldConsisting of two parts
- dualHaving two parts
back-to-back · consecutive · compound · multiplied · amplified · stacked · layered · cumulative · synergistic · cascading
recession
Prolonged economic decline
- inflationSustained price level increase
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- tax hikeRaised government levy
market crash · cost increase · budget cut · downturn · price surge · wage freeze · debt · deficit · austerity · squeeze
diagnosis
Identification of illness
- symptomsIndicators of disease
- side effectsUnintended treatment consequences
- comorbiditySimultaneous presence of diseases
complications · condition · illness · chronic · acute · relapse · flare-up · deterioration · prognosis · drug interaction
double-whammydouble bonus
Two additional rewards given
win-win · twofer · two-for-one · lucky break
double-whammystroke of luck
Fortunate unexpected occurrence
windfall · good fortune · lucky break · blessing · bonanza
double, doubled, wham, doubling, doubles, double-checked, double-cross, redouble, whammy