kablooey

noun

Save Word

ka·bloo·ey | \ kə-ˈblü-ē

variants: or less commonly kablooie \ kə-ˈblü-ē

\ or kerblooey \ kər-ˈblü-ē

Definition of kablooey

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 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 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

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.