Gaming
whiff
What does whiff mean?
To swing and miss at a pitch, or by extension to strike out.
"He whiffed on three straight sliders to end the inning."
Origin
From the old American sports/baseball sense of 'whiff' meaning to swing and miss, carried into fighting games and shooters in the 2000s. Onomatopoeic — the sound of something cutting through air.
Frequently asked questions
What does whiff mean in gaming?
It means you missed an attack or shot that should have connected, usually a clean, embarrassing miss. It can also describe botching any clutch play.
What is a whiff punish?
It's a fighting-game term for hitting your opponent during the recovery frames right after they whiff a move. You bait the miss, then punish it.
Is whiff an insult?
Not exactly, but it's mocking. Saying someone whiffed is teasing them for a clean miss, not a compliment.
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