have a whale of a time

English

Etymology

Compare whale (“something or someone excellent”); thus, not just any good time but rather a great time.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Verb

have a whale of a time (third-person singular simple present has a whale of a time, present participle having a whale of a time, simple past and past participle had a whale of a time)

1. (idiomatic) To enjoy oneself greatly: to have a very good time.

   Synonym: have a ball

   Hypernym: have a good time

   We had a whale of a time at the party Saturday night.

Translations

to enjoy oneself greatly

Finnish: pitää hauskaa (fi) French: s'amuser comme un petit fou, s'éclater (fr) Hungarian: nagyon/borzasztóan jól érzi magát, remekül/ragyogóan érzi magát, remekül szórakozik Icelandic: skemmta sér konunglega Japanese: 堪能する (たんのうする, tannō suru), 満喫する (まんきつする, mankitsu suru) Polish: bardzo dobrze się bawić Spanish: pasarlo la mar de bien, disfrutar como un enano, pasarlo pipa

See also

• blast
• field day
• hell of a
• time of one's life