whale

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like a beached whale

1. Completely stuck and unable to move or escape from the situation. Said especially of large objects or vehicles. Our van's wheels sunk in the mud, and we've been stuck here like a beached whale for over an hour!

2. potentially offensive Of a person, exceptionally large or obese. I love going to the beach, but I'm going to look like a beached whale in this swimsuit.

See also: beach, like, whale

a beached whale

potentially offensive An extremely large or obese person. I really need to start exercising again. I've turned into a beached whale!

See also: beach, whale

a whale of a (good) time

An exceptionally fun, exciting, or amusing experience. (Usually used in the phrase, "have a whale of a (good) time.") Gee, Samantha, I sure had a whale of a time at the dance with you last night. We should go out again sometime! Come out to our party this weekend, it's sure to be a whale of a good time!

See also: of, time, whale

whale tail

slang The waistband of a thong or G-string when it becomes visible above the waistline of the wearer's pants or skirt. I really don't like wearing thongs, because I'm always paranoid that I'll end up having a whale tail on display.

See also: tail, whale

every eel hopes to become a whale

A phrase highlighting one's ambition. Just like every eel hopes to become a whale, I dream of becoming the CEO one day.

See also: become, eel, every, hope, whale

throw a tub to the whale

To create a diversion, in order to avoid a dangerous or unpleasant situation. No one can know that I'm here, so throw a tub to the whale while I sneak out the back door!

See also: throw, tub, whale

a whale of a

1. An exceptionally great or excellent. I had a whale of a time at Pete's wedding—I danced all night long!

2. An exceptionally large. Remodeling the kitchen will make a whale of a difference in the selling price of the home.

See also: of, whale

have a whale of a (good) time

To have an exceptionally fun, exciting, or amusing experience. Gee, Samantha, I sure had a whale of a time at the dance with you last night. We should go out again sometime! Come out to our party this weekend, you're sure to have a whale of a good time!

See also: have, of, time, whale

have a whale of a time

Fig. to have an exciting or fun time; to have a big time. (Whale is a way of saying big.) We had a whale of a time at Sally's birthday party. Enjoy your vacation! I hope you have a whale of a time.

See also: have, of, time, whale

whale into (someone or an animal)

Fig. to attack or punish someone or an animal. Jimmy's dad really whaled into him. The sailor whaled into the dog.

See also: whale

whale the tar out of someone

Inf. to spank or beat someone. (See also beat the living daylights out of someone.) My father threatened to whale the tar out of me. I'll whale the tar out of you when we get home if you don't settle down.

See also: of, out, tar, whale

whale away

Attack physically or verbally, as in Our boys whaled away at the enemy, or The talk-show host whaled away at the hostile critics. The word whale here does not allude to the ocean mammal, but means "flog" or "thrash." [Mid-1800s]

See also: away, whale

whale of a time

A very enjoyable experience, as in We had a whale of a time in Puerto Rico. This idiom alludes to the largest mammal to describe something very large and impressive. [Colloquial; early 1900s]

See also: of, time, whale

have a whale of a time

INFORMAL

If you have a whale of a time, you enjoy yourself a lot. I had a whale of a time in London. Kids of all ages will have a whale of a time at the water park.

See also: have, of, time, whale

a whale of a —

an extremely good example of a particular thing. informal

1993 Chicago Tribune This stuffed-shirt epitome of the East Coast Establishment of his day had a whale of a time at Chicago's World's Fair.

See also: of, whale

have a ˈwhale of a time

(informal) enjoy yourself very much; have a very good time: The children had a whale of a time at the beach and didn’t want to go home.

See also: have, of, time, whale

whale into

v.

To strike or attack something or someone forcefully: The batter whaled into the baseball. The politician whaled into the press for their inaccurate reporting.

See also: whale

whale on

v.

1. To strike or hit someone or something repeatedly and forcefully; thrash someone or something: The street gangs whaled on each other until someone called the police.

2. To criticize someone vehemently: Our boss whaled on all of us for missing the deadline.

See also: on, whale

(as) fat as a beached whale

phr. very, very fat. That dame is as fat as a beached whale.

See also: beach, fat, whale

fat as a beached whale

verb

See as fat as a beached whale

See also: beach, fat, whale

have a whale of a time

tv. to have an exciting time; to have a big time. We had a whale of a time at your party.

See also: have, of, time, whale

whale

1. n. a very fat person. (Cruel.) Britney is getting to be such a whale.

2. n. a drunkard; a person with an enormous capacity for liquor. Arthur is getting to be a regular whale. What does he drink?

3. n. a high roller in a casino or similar gambling setting. We take good care of our whales, comping them with anything they ask for.

whale into someone/something

in. to attack someone or something. Jimmy’s dad really whaled into him.

See also: someone, something, whale

whale on

mod. excellent. (Possibly confused with or in error for wailing.) We had a whale on time at Bob’s house.

See also: on, whale

whale the tar out of someone

tv. to spank or beat someone. (Sometimes said to a child.) My father threatened to whale the tar out of me.

See also: of, out, someone, tar, whale