whale away

Idioms  

1. 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]

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Example Sentences

One of the few that can be described in a family newspaper involves a simple premise: Strap on an athletic cup and let some person or thing whale away.

From Washington Post

Mr Tripp said wooden sea defences would have to be removed to allow heavy machinery onto the beach to haul the whale away using a metal sledge.

From BBC

Just whale away on him like a piñata?

From Fox News

Driving a whale away with noise from a lineup of boats worked in Australia’s Tasmania island state.

From Seattle Times

If kids in the richest, whitest part of the Twin Cities were invited to whale away at a surplus cashier’s scanner, or most anything else, there would be plenty of takers.

From Washington Post