1 C1 idiomatic slang
To hit a person or object repeatedly and with great force.
"The bigger kid started wailing on him until the teacher stepped in."
inseparable
wail on
C1 slang inseparable transitive
To hit someone or something repeatedly and hard; to attack physically with force.
In plain English
To keep hitting someone very hard, over and over.
What does "wail on" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic slang
To play a musical instrument, especially drums or guitar, with great energy and force.
"He was wailing on his guitar like he was born to play."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
'Wail' here is likely a variant of 'whale' (to beat); the 'on' indicates the target of the action.
Actually means
To keep hitting someone very hard, over and over.
Usage tip
Primarily American informal/slang. May also be spelled 'whale on'. The variant 'wale on' is also attested. Sometimes used figuratively to mean criticizing someone harshly. Mostly used in spoken language and informal writing.
Words that pair with "wail on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
someone drum punching bag opponent rival
How to conjugate "wail on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
wail on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
wails on
he/she/it
Past simple
wailed on
yesterday
Past participle
wailed on
have + pp
-ing form
wailing on
continuous
Hear "wail on" in the wild
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Other ways to say "wail on"
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