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

He ate well, slept well, kept trying to whale away at his work, and actually managed to act on 233 bills during his three days in the hospital.

From Time Magazine Archive

How I do admire a man who can sit down and whale away with a pen just the same as if it was fishing—or something else as full of pleasure and as void of labor.

From Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 3 (1876-1885) by Paine, Albert Bigelow