Yesterday, I mentioned that something was out of \u201cwhack.\u201d\u00a0 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.\u00a0
I have a power washer that I\u2019ve had a number of years \u2014 it still works fine, but a lot of the time I have to give it a good \u201cwhack\u201d to get the motor started. Once it\u2019s running, everything works fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked whack up in the dictionary and came away with a number of definitions indicating that whack can be used in ways I\u2019ve never thought of before. Here’s some of the entries from the dictionary:\u00a0 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<\/em>: 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I usually use whack when I hit something or something doesn\u2019t seem right or work right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My extensive research found that \u201cwhack\u201d as a verb first appeared in the early 18th century, meaning \u201cto beat or strike sharply and vigorously.\u201d it was probably formed as an imitation of the sound that such a blow would make. As a noun, “whack\u201d 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 \u201ca portion, or one\u2019s share\u201d \u2014 that started as slang in the criminal underworld meaning \u201ca share of the proceeds of a crime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Later it became popular to describe a person, or one of his\/her body parts as \u201cout of whack.\u201d Then of course, the phrase was applied to mechanical devices. I think that\u2019s the most popular use today\u2026. almost every gizmo we have goes kablooey at some point, and we say it\u2019s \u201cout os whack.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I found one reference to the \u201cout of whack\u201d\u00a0 terminology originating from the chopping or splitting of wood\u2026. supposedly the original word whack or thwack meant a blow \u2014 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 \u2014 if you were missing the mark, not quite right, you were out of whack. Yesterday, I mentioned that something was out of \u201cwhack.\u201d\u00a0 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.\u00a0I have a power washer that I\u2019ve … Continue reading
Anyhow, I think it\u2019s an interesting word and an an interesting phrase. I know, I have too much time on my hands\u2026..
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