noun

whoopee cushion

WUUP-ee KUUSH-uhn

Whoopee cushion (noun) means a novelty rubber bag that makes a loud noise like breaking wind when someone sits on it, sold as a joke item. Example: “He hid a whoopee cushion under the vicar's chair.”

noun

A novelty rubber bag that makes a loud noise like breaking wind when someone sits on it, sold as a joke item.

"He hid a whoopee cushion under the vicar's chair."

"The party bags contained a whoopee cushion and three plastic spiders."

How to Use Whoopee cushion

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA rubber bag that makes a rude noise when sat on.

When to use it

Informal; the name itself is standard and used by retailers.

Easily confused with

stink bomb joy buzzer

Common pairings

sit on a whoopee cushion hide a whoopee cushion a self-inflating whoopee cushion

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He hid a _____ under the vicar's chair.

Etymology

From whoopee, an exclamation of boisterous delight, and cushion; the product was sold under this name from the early twentieth century.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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farting cushion poo-poo cushion

Rhymes for whoopee cushion

region ablation allusion emulsion ideation novation abortion abrasion diffusion elocution extension oxidation

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does a whoopee cushion work?

It is a flat rubber or vinyl bladder that you inflate and then place on a seat. Sitting on it forces the air out through a narrow folded opening, and the lips of that opening vibrate as the air escapes, producing the rasping noise.

Do you have to inflate a whoopee cushion?

The traditional rubber kind, yes — you blow it up and lay it flat. Self-inflating versions have a foam insert that pulls air back in on its own, so they can be used repeatedly without being blown up between goes.