Yesterday, I mentioned that something was out of “whack.” I realized that I use that term on occasion and maybe sometimes I use it when I should probably be using another phrase or expression.
I have a power washer that I’ve had a number of years — it still works fine, but a lot of the time I have to give it a good “whack” to get the motor started. Once it’s running, everything works fine.
I looked whack up in the dictionary and came away with a number of definitions indicating that whack can be used in ways I’ve never thought of before. Here’s some of the entries from the dictionary: a: to strike with a smart or resounding blow; b: to cut with or as of with a whack: chop; c: to get the better of: d: defeat; slang: murder, kill; e: a critical attack; f: portion, share; g: condition, state: h: an opportunity to do something; i: a single action or occasion; j: out of proper order or shape.
I usually use whack when I hit something or something doesn’t seem right or work right.
My extensive research found that “whack” as a verb first appeared in the early 18th century, meaning “to beat or strike sharply and vigorously.” it was probably formed as an imitation of the sound that such a blow would make. As a noun, “whack” started out meaning a kind of blow, but soon developed a whole range of secondary meanings. One of the meanings, mentioned in the dictionary indicated that whack became to be used to mean “a portion, or one’s share” — that started as slang in the criminal underworld meaning “a share of the proceeds of a crime.”
Later it became popular to describe a person, or one of his/her body parts as “out of whack.” Then of course, the phrase was applied to mechanical devices. I think that’s the most popular use today…. almost every gizmo we have goes kablooey at some point, and we say it’s “out os whack.”
I found one reference to the “out of whack” terminology originating from the chopping or splitting of wood…. supposedly the original word whack or thwack meant a blow — when you are chopping wood you want to keep putting one chop right in the same spot as the previous ones or you simply make lots of little chips — if you were missing the mark, not quite right, you were out of whack.
Anyhow, I think it’s an interesting word and an an interesting phrase. I know, I have too much time on my hands…..
— 30 —