out of whack

Also found in: Thesaurus, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia.

whack

(wăk, hwăk)

v. whacked, whack·ing, whacks

v.tr.

1. To strike (someone or something) with a sharp blow; slap.

2. Slang To kill deliberately; murder.

v.intr.

To deal a sharp, resounding blow.

1. A sharp, swift blow.

2. The sound made by a sharp, swift blow.

Phrasal Verb:

whack off Vulgar Slang

To masturbate.

Idioms:

have/take a whack at Informal

To try out; attempt.

out of whack Informal

Improperly ordered or balanced; not functioning correctly.

whacked out Slang

1. Exhausted.

2. Crazy.

3. Under the influence of a mind-altering drug.

[Probably imitative.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Adj.

out of whack - out of balance or out of adjustment; "the front wheel of my bicycle is out of whack"

idiomatic expression, phrasal idiom, set phrase, phrase, idiom - an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up

malfunctioning, nonfunctional - not performing or able to perform its regular function; "a malfunctioning valve"

References in periodicals archive ?

Have you been observing anyone who's regularly out of whack? National figures, celebrities, politicians?