wombo combo

English

Alternative forms

• wombo-combo

Etymology

Reduplication. Popularized following its use by commentators on a 2008 tournament match of the fighting game Super Smash Bros. Melee in a video clip which spread virally. Likely an oblique reference to a menu item from the Northern California pizza chain restaurant Round Table Pizza introduced in 2004.

Noun

wombo combo (plural wombo combos)

1. (slang, chiefly video games) A combination of actions which create a decisive advantage (often involving coordination between teammates).
   • 2020, Andreas Stavropoulos, “Insane Gnar and Sett wombo combo helps Vayne player secure pentakill”, in Dot Esports‎^[2]:

     One League player showcased a superb wombo combo in a Reddit post yesterday, which began with Gnar and Sett’s ultimates and ended with a Vayne pentakill.

   • 2021, Juno Martin, “OPINION: Which of IU’s historical mascots would win in a fight for the soul of Hoosier pride?”, in Indiana Daily Student‎^[3]:

     […] it would not be surprising if Ox and the Bison were to gang up against this wretched foe. In a visually comical but spiritually inspiring act of animal solidarity, they instinctively go for the obvious wombo-combo: The Bison charges Mr. Hoosier Pride, who trips over the bulldog braced behind him.

Verb

wombo combo (third-person singular simple present wombo combos, present participle wombo comboing, simple past and past participle wombo comboed)

1. (slang, chiefly video games, transitive, intransitive) To perform a wombo combo (against someone).
   • 2014, Justen A.K.A Panda, “AdeptiCon Rules Packets are off to the printers”, in Chicago Malifaux Players mailing list‎^[4]:

     Just leave it as it used to be so we can stop worrying about "balancing" teams. It is supposed to be fun games with a friend to wombo combo on other bros with silly dumb synergies.

   • 2020, Eric Jeffries, “Yu-Gi-Oh!: Every Magician Card Yugi Ever Used”, in CBR.com‎^[5]:

     Kaiba is completely wombo-comboed by Yugi this turn, as he uses the effect of Apple Magician Girl to bring Lemon Magician Girl onto the field, who then brings out the Dark Magician Girl to just absolutely trash Kaiba.