English · Phrasal verb Attested

whale away

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To whale on something in an ongoing manner (i.e., with progressive aspect).

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Tiếp tục tấn công vào một thứ

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

The kids had decided to whale away on some pumpkins with baseball bats; it held their interest for a little while.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To talk or preach at length, often excitedly or vehemently; to go on.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Nói hoặc giảng dài dòng

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

What does “whale away” mean?

To whale on something in an ongoing manner (i.e., with progressive aspect).

Is “whale away” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.