Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack?

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Joe B. Profile
Joe B. answered
I always figured we said it because it is often followed by whacking or hitting something to get it to work properly.... Out of whack, give it a whack :)
Keith Old Profile
Keith Old answered
G'day Hisdimple,

Thank you for your question.

Out of whack means something is improperly balanced. Presumably it needs a whack to put it right.

Regards
Sarah Profile
Sarah answered
Tht means hitting something
Pamela Krueger Profile
Pamela Krueger answered
Ya, definitely means to hit or clobber someone or something...Reminds me of the Lizzy Bordon rhyme:
Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
And when she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one
John Profile
John answered
Out of (tally whacker)whack comes from a boating/sailing. It is used in place of the word preventer.to stop a main sail /boom from getting out of control and whacking you in the nugget while sailing down wind. How's that for a explanation.sort of like batten down the hatches.
thanked the writer.
Lynne Dwyer
Lynne Dwyer commented
That tally-whacker had a mole, and the mole is the key to it.
John
John commented
And the tally man tallied my bananas, worked all day in the sun, it's late and i want to go home, hey mr.tally man tally my bananas. : )hahahahahahaa.

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