variants
or less commonly kablooie
or kerblooey
informal
: the sound of an explosion
heard a loud kablooey
—often used interjectionallyThen, kablooie! A power outage shut down three big-box stores …—
Mitchell Landsberg
Mitchell LandsbergSo what determines confidence? The actual level of debt has some influence—but it's not as if there's a red line, where you cross 90 or 100 percent of GDP and kablooie.—Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman
also
: an explosion or series of explosions especially when used for effect (as in a movie)
… conveying a story of corporate greed and institutional carelessness while hitting the viewer with all the taut, big-budget kablooey they can handle. —Brad Wheeler
Brad Wheeler This wasn't Gaga's party. Even through all the airborne pomp and pyrotechnic kablooey, she ultimately seemed like a guest—and one who didn't want to overstay her welcome. —Chris Richards
Chris Richards
Phrases
go kablooey
or less commonly go kablooie
or go kerblooey
1
informal
: to burst violently : explode
What plays best of all, of course, is a spaceship going kablooey all over the screen.—Tad Friend
Tad FriendSo is this something homeowners should consider? A spate of municipal water pipes going kerblooey last spring might prompt some to think so.—David Lazarus
David Lazarus2
informal
: to suffer complete failure, destruction, or ruin especially in a sudden or spectacular way
One of several prize prospects of the mid-80s, he tried a comeback with the Rangers after his career went kablooey.—Kevin Sherrington
Kevin Sherrington… went public … just a few months before the technology-stock bubble went kablooey.—Scott Barancik et al.
Scott Barancik et al.Dictionary Entries Near kablooey
Cite this Entry
“Kablooey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kablooey. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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