Context

This famous line is chanted by contestants on the classic game show Press Your Luck (1983-1986).

Three players are after big bucks, but they have to avoid the Whammy as they play the most exciting game of their lives: Press Your Luck! The Whammy is a space on a giant light-up board that summons a little red guy to take all of a contestant's money.

To give themselves luck, contestants, their hand hovering over their button, chant "No whammies, no whammies!" before yelling "Stop!" and hitting the button, hoping to earn $5,000 or, even better, a glorious Flokati Rug while staying far, far away from the Whammy.

The Whammies are famous for going on cruises and saying "Bon voyage" to your money...or impersonating Michael Jackson. They were co-created and animated by Savage Steve Holland of Better Off Dead fame.

P.S. Press Your Luck is infamous for the time a man named Michael Larson memorized the pattern of the big board and walked away with over $100,000, the largest one-day prize total on a game show as of 1984. No whammies for that guy…at least on the show. His weird life is documented in Big Bucks: The Press Your Luck Scandal (2003).

Where you've heard it

You might use this line if you ever need good luck and you don't want anything to interfere with it—least of all a little red guy with a mallet. It was also referenced on Family Guy, and the show was revived as Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck in 2002, hosted by Todd Newton (who is no Peter Tomarken).

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

You're allowed to shout anything if an animated monster is trying to steal your money.