whale away

whale away at (someone or something)

1. To attack or thrash something in an brutal, forceful, or relentless manner. He stood there whaling away at the wall with a sledgehammer, but he barely seemed to be making a dent in it. She began whaling away at the poor child until a police officer finally intervened. The other team whaled away at us for the entire game, leading to one of our most humiliating defeats of the season.
2. To criticize, rebuke, or verbally assault someone or something vehemently or relentlessly. The interviewer suddenly began whaling away at the politician over his alleged ties to the pharmaceutical industry. The boss whaled away at us for the entirety of the meeting because of our failure to meet our sales quota.
See also: away, whale
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

whale away

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]
See also: away, whale
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • whale away at (someone or something)
  • whaling
  • whale into
  • whale into (someone or something)
  • whale into someone/something
  • whale on
  • whale on (someone or something)
  • wale
  • wail on (someone or something)
  • wail on someone
References in periodicals archive
It is believed animal experts are waiting for the tide to turn so they can get diggers into position to take the whale away where it will most likely be incinerated.
Whale carcass washes up on Causeway beach
They are currently taking the whale away to be studied.
Los Angeles: Rare Saber-Toothed Whale Washes up on Venice Beach
Often in my pre-adolescent years when I was at odds with my dad he would have me whale away at his belly.
Shadow boxing with pop
If the tide did wash the whale away, it would provide an easy solution to what would otherwise prove to be a logistical nightmare to move the carcass, which could weigh up to 10 tons.
Whale joins raisins and fridges on bizarre beach guest list
"We started leading Tsu-xiit out to open ocean at six this morning, and were within sight of it when DFO boats showed up and attracted the whale away from us," said 35-year-old paddler Gary Maquinna.
Mowachaht/Muchalaht battle DFO
Officials there had lobbied hard to keep the whale away from other communities that were trying to host him as a tourist attraction.
Norway grants Keiko home for winter months
We should whale away at the causes and effects of bad times and headline solutions.
The new curmudgeon: lean even heavier on business news