Google Hacks

Google Whacking

With over 2 billion pages in its index, is it possible to get only one result for a search?

With an index of over 2 billion pages, Google attracts lots of interest from searchers. New methods of searching are tested, new ways of classifying information are explored, new games are invented.

New games are invented? Well, yes, actually. This is the Internet, after all.

The term “Google whacking” was coined by Gary Stock. The idea is to find a two-word query that has only one result. The two words may not be enclosed in quotes (that’s too easy), and the words must be found in Google’s own dictionary (no proper names, made-up words, etc). If the one result comes from a word list, such as a glossary or dictionary, the whack is disqualified.

If you manage a Google whack—and its harder than it sounds—be sure to list your find on the official Whack Stack (http://www.googlewhack.com/). Perusing the most recent 2,000 whacks is highly recommended if your brain is stuck and you need a little inspiration in your research. Examples include “endoscopy cudgels,” “nebbish orthodontia,” and “peccable oink.”

Are you stuck for a Google whack query? This hack should help. It takes a random word from each of two “word of the day” sites and queries Google in hopes of a Google whack (or as experienced players would say, “To see if they make a whack”).

#!/usr/local/bin/perl # google_whack.pl # An automated Google whacker. # Usage: perl google_whack.pl # Your ...