a whack at (someone or something)
a whack at (someone or something)
1. A chance or opportunity to do or attempt something. Well, I haven't fixed a motor in nearly 10 years, but I'll certainly make a whack at it. You had your chance, now let your brother have a whack at breaking the piñata. Give Sarah a whack at the equation. I bet she can solve it!
2. An attempt to best, defeat, or assault someone. Watching him smile that smug, self-important smile, I thought to myself how much I'd love to have a whack at him—one on one, with nothing but our fists! A: "This doesn't seem like any ordinary thief. He's always one step ahead of us." B: "Give me a whack at him, Chief. I think I can bring him in." She made a name for herself as one of the best racers in the world in the span of just one year. Now, every professional worth their salt wants a whack at her.
3. A harsh or unfair criticism, belittlement, or verbal attack. I feel a little bad for taking a whack at him like that, but what he said was just too dumb to let slide. It seems like everyone in the office has had a whack at me over the mistake.
See also: whack
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- a try at (someone or something)
- a stab at (someone or something)
- a crack at (someone or something)
- have a crack at
- have a crack at (something)
- have a crack at something
- have a stab at (doing something)
- have a stab at something/at doing something
- a whack at (something)
- have a whack (at something)