a whale of

W

a whale of (idiom)
/ə ˈweɪl əv/

The idiomatic expression “a whale of” is commonly used in English to convey the idea of something exceptional in size, intensity, or enjoyment.

In its modern form, “a whale of” serves as an intensifier. It is most often used in positive contexts, such as a whale of a time to mean an extremely enjoyable experience. However, it can also describe something challenging or severe, as in a whale of a problem.

Variants

• a whale of a time
• a whale of something

Meanings

• An exceptionally enjoyable experience.
• Something very large, great, or abundant.
• A very big (piece) of something.

Synonyms: a great time; a terrific time; a huge amount; a monster (task/problem).

Example Sentences

1. I had a whale of a time exploring the wildlife sanctuary with friends.
2. She tackled a whale of a task organizing the festival on her own.
3. We encountered a whale of a problem when the server crashed just before the presentation.
4. The kids had a whale of a time playing at the water park all afternoon.
5. He won a whale of a prize in the raffle—an all-expenses-paid trip.

Origin and History

Earliest Printed Record

The earliest confirmed printed occurrence dates to 14 July 1871 in an American newspaper, which used the wording “they never have a time, but they have a whale of a time.” This example demonstrates that the phrase was already in colloquial use by the mid-nineteenth century.

Theories of Origin

The prevailing theory links the expression to the whale’s immense size, making it a natural metaphor for anything unusually large or impressive. The term may also have been influenced by maritime culture, where whaling was a significant industry and nautical vocabulary often entered popular speech.

Linguistic Development

Historical slang records from the late nineteenth century show related uses of whale as a noun to describe a person with great skill or power, as in he’s a whale at tennis. The construction a whale of a… emerged in informal contexts, particularly in American student slang, before spreading into mainstream usage.

Country of Origin

Evidence points to the United States as the country of origin for the idiom in its intensifying sense. While similar figurative uses of whale appeared in British English, the complete idiomatic structure is most strongly associated with American print and colloquial speech of the late nineteenth century.

Fish, Time

Last update: August 13, 2025 7:10 AM