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 • Jan. 31, 2022

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 • May 29, 2020

He continued to whale away from there, also driving the green at the par-4 14th.

From Golf Digest • Jan. 8, 2018

"Time!" calls a handler, and Liston begins to whale away in earnest at his sparring partners.

From Time Magazine Archive

We've been looking for him ever since, and to-day we thought we saw someone in a motor boat towing our whale away.

From Frank and Andy Afloat The Cave on the Island by Barnum, Vance