a whale of a
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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.
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.