kablooey

noun

ka·​bloo·​ey kə-ˈblü-ē 

variants or less commonly kablooie

kə-ˈblü-ē 

or kerblooey

kər-ˈblü-ē 

informal : the sound of an explosion

heard a loud kablooey

—often used interjectionally

Then, kablooie! A power outage shut down three big-box stores …

—Mitchell Landsberg

So 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

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

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

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

So is this something homeowners should consider? A spate of municipal water pipes going kerblooey last spring might prompt some to think so.

—David Lazarus

2

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

… went public … just a few months before the technology-stock bubble went kablooey.

—Scott Barancik et al.

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above