whack

¹

[ wak, hwak ]

verb (used with object)

1. to strike with a smart, resounding blow or blows.
2. Slang. to divide into or take in shares (often followed by up ):

   Whack the loot between us two.

verb (used without object)

1. to strike a smart, resounding blow or blows.

noun

1. a smart, resounding blow:

   a whack with his hand.

2. Informal. a trial or attempt:

   to take a whack at a job.

   Synonyms: turn, go, try

3. Slang. a portion or share.

verb phrase

1. Slang. to produce quickly or, sometimes, carelessly:

   She whacks out a short story every week or so.

2. 1. to cut off or separate with a blow:

      The cook whacked off the fish's head.

   2. Slang: Vulgar. to masturbate.

whack

²

[ wak, hwak ]

noun

1. a variant of wack ¹( def ).

whack

/ wæk /

verb

1. to strike with a sharp resounding blow
2. informal.
   usually passive to exhaust completely
3. informal.
   tr; usu foll by in or on to put something on to or into something else with force or abandon

   whack on some sunscreen

noun

1. slang.
   tr to murder

   if you were out of line you got whacked

2. a sharp resounding blow or the noise made by such a blow
3. informal.
   a share or portion
4. informal.
   a try or attempt (esp in the phrase have a whack at )
5. out of whack informal.
   out of order; unbalanced

   the whole system is out of whack

interjection

1. an exclamation imitating the noise of a sharp resounding blow

Derived Forms

• ˈwhacker, noun

Other Words From

• whack·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of whack¹

First recorded in 1710–20; originally dialect, Scots form of thwack; whang ², whittle

Word History and Origins

Origin of whack¹

C18: perhaps a variant of thwack , ultimately of imitative origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. out of whack, Informal. out of order or alignment; not in proper condition.

More idioms and phrases containing whack

• have a crack (whack) at
• out of kilter (whack)

Example Sentences

For a beat, it seems like he’s going to whack her and leave her for dead.

From Los Angeles Times

"I felt stinging pain, it was a hard whack."

From BBC

To my surprise, they actually stayed up and kept my arms protected as I whacked scratchy shrubs for several hours.

From Los Angeles Times

The party knows the decisions, particularly to whack billions on employers’ national insurance, have caused some anxiety among some voters.

From BBC

His mechanics were so out of whack that, during a month-long stint on the injured list in the summer, he went to a private facility in Florida, searching for any shred of consistent effectiveness.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• wallop