have a whale of a time
To enjoy oneself greatly: to have a very good time.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“We had a whale of a time at the beach today.”
“You will have a whale of a time at the concert tonight.”
“We always have a whale of a time when we visit the city.”
“Everyone had a whale of a time at the party, dancing and laughing until the early morning hours.”
“The children had a whale of a time playing in the mud after the heavy rain stopped.”
“My grandparents had a whale of a time during their cruise, meeting new people and seeing the islands.”
“Even though the workshop was for work, the team had a whale of a time building robots and solving puzzles together.”
“Despite the long journey and the unpredictable weather, the travelers had a whale of a time exploring the hidden mountain villages.”
The expression is an extension of the colloquial use of whale to denote an object or person of exceptional quality. It suggests not merely a pleasant interval, but an occasion of significant scale. This usage follows the 19th-century pattern of employing the animal's name as a superlative for anything particularly large or impressive.
- 01
a week is a long time in politics
In politics, much change can occur in a short space of time.
- 02
about time
Far past the desired time.
- 03
any time now
Very soon.
- 04
any time soon
soon
- 05
better luck next time
Used to wish somebody hope in future success after a failure.
- 06
bide one's time
To wait, especially for a suitable opportunity.
- 07
borrowed time
A period of time whose precise duration is not known but which can be expected to be quite limited, and at the end of which one's situation, benefits, or opportunities will be entirely terminated.
- 08
burn time
To waste time unnecessarily.
Last updated August 10, 2026