triple witching hour

American

noun

the last hour of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the four Fridays each year when stock options, stock index futures, and options on such futures simultaneously expire: regarded as a time of extreme volatility in trading.

Etymology

Origin of triple witching hour

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was a triple witching hour.

From Golf Digest

Investors took in stride the "triple witching hour."

From Time Magazine Archive

In the past, the triple witching hour has brought volatile market moves, causing the Dow to rise or drop as much as 36 points.

From Time Magazine Archive

It is known on Wall Street as "triple witching hour."

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023