Have a whale of a time

Meaning

Enjoy oneself immensely.

Usage

Informal description of a great experience.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Sailors used whales to illustrate something large and fun.

19th century sailors and children's books popularized it.