# fair crack of the whip

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/fair-crack-of-the-whip
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Let's have an equitable attempt, match, or process. Used as an appeal for reasonableness.

## Examples

- Give me a fair crack of the whip to explain my side.
- The new manager promised that every employee would get a fair crack of the whip during the promotion process.
- Although the odds were stacked against the small startup, the investors agreed to provide a fair crack of the whip before deciding whether to withdraw their funding.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.