Definition of "whammo" [whammo]

• Slang Used to indicate the startling abruptness of a sound, action, or event: "The alarm goes off and—whammo!—we're all at our assigned stations” ( Meg Greenfield). (interjection)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "I was up late doing laundry, when whammo, my wash machine went wonky."
• "No, get this: my darling little nerd was following along in line, his mind on how depressing gym class is, his hands in his pockets, HIS EYES SHUT, and whammo!"
• "And just when you think that an evil character might have found redemption, whammo, he comes up with a shard of porcelain."