phfft phfft phfft.

n.  puffs of air leaking from a bicycle tire; see also phfft phfft.

<I’ve never seen so much broken glass on the shoulder of a highway, and not just in one place, but for many miles.  Inevitably, I picked up a big chunk in my back tire which I discovered after hearing the dreaded phfft, phfft, phfft, or something like that, coming from the back tire.  —Adam K., “Northern Washington  and Southern BC Loop Tour of 8 Mountain Passes.”>

n.  the famous triple whoosh of Zorro’s blade as he left the trademark symbol of his initial.

<Don Q, Son of Zorro (1925), perhaps the quintessential [Douglas] Fairbanks film, was even better than its progenitor.  It was followed by countless sound remakes, sequels, spin-offs, and spoofs.  The only significant contribution these talkies made to the basic mix was the immortal sound effect “phfft! phfft! phfft!”  —TVGuide.>

phfft-phfft-phfft.

n.  the spray of sand bombarded by machine gun fire.

<Phfft-Phfft-Phfft.  More spraying sand, from machine gun fire, Smitty realized as the winking of muzzle flash blinked from all over the hill, and their staccato canvas-ripping sound filled his ears.  —EnWorld.org.>

n.  the warning hiss of a cat.

<This court rules that neither ‘Woof-woof-woof-woof-woof!’ or ‘Meow... Phfft-Phfft-Phfft!’ constitutes hate speech.  —David Farley, “Doctor Fun, 9 April 96.”>

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