# Nantucket sleigh ride

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/nantucket-sleigh-ride
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An instance of the dragging of a whaleboat across the surface of a body of water by a harpooned whale.

## Examples

- The harpooned whale pulled the boat into a wild Nantucket sleigh ride.
- The crew held on tightly as the whale accelerated, turning their small boat into a dangerous Nantucket sleigh ride across the bay.
- As the line pulled taut and the boat surged forward, the harpooner braced himself for the exhilarating yet perilous Nantucket sleigh ride that would define their hunt.

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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.