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Fling vs Whim - What's the difference?

fling | whim | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between fling and whim

is that fling is an act of throwing, often violently while whim is a fanciful impulse, or whimsical idea.

As a verb fling

is to throw with violence or quick movement; to hurl.

fling

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An act of throwing, often violently.
  • An act of moving the limbs or body with violent movements, especially in a dance.
    • the fling of a horse
  • An act or period of unrestrained indulgence.
  • * D. Jerrold
    • When I was as young as you, I had my fling . I led a life of pleasure.
  • Short, often sexual relationship.
    • I had a fling with a girl I met on holiday.
  • (figuratively) An attempt, a try (as in "give it a fling" ).
  • (obsolete) A severe or contemptuous remark; an expression of sarcastic scorn; a gibe; a sarcasm.
  • * Jonathan Swift
    • I, who love to have a fling , / Both at senate house and king.
  • A kind of dance.
    • the Highland fling
  • (obsolete) A trifing matter; an object of contempt.
  • * Old proverb
    • England were but a fling / Save for the crooked stick and the grey goose wing.

    Synonyms

    * (l)

    Verb

  • To throw with violence or quick movement; to hurl.
  • * Dryden
    • 'Tis Fate that flings the dice: and, as she flings, / Of kings makes peasants, and of peasants kings.
  • * Addison
    • I know thy generous temper well. / Fling but the appearance of dishonour on it, / It straight takes fire.
  • * 2011 , Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15210221.stm]
    • Wilkinson was struggling, sending the re-start straight into touch and flinging a pass the same way, and France then went close to the first try of the contest as Clerc took a long pass out on the left and was just bundled into touch by the corner flag.
  • (archaic) To throw oneself in a violent or hasty manner; to rush or spring with violence or haste.
  • * Milton
    • And crop-full, out of doors he flings .
  • * Elizabeth Browning
    • I flung' closer to his breast, / As sword that, after battle, ' flings to sheath.
  • (archaic) To throw; to wince; to flounce.
  • * Helen Crocket, The Ettrick Shepherd's Last Tale
    • The horse flung most potently, making his heels fly aloft in the air.
  • (archaic) To utter abusive language; to sneer.
    • The scold began to flout and fling .

    whim

    English

    (wikipedia whim)

    Etymology 1

    Apocopal derivation of "whim-wham."

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fanciful impulse, or whimsical idea
  • * Churchill
    • Let every man enjoy his whim .
  • (mining) A large capstan or vertical drum turned by horse power or steam power, for raising ore or water, etc., from mines, or for other purposes
    • Synonyms
    * (fancy) lark, especially in phrase on a whim
    Derived terms
    * on a whim * whim gin * whim shaft * whimsical

    External links

    * Picture of a horse-powered whim used to wind the cables on to work the mine between the depth of 50 feet to 500 feet - photo taken at Gympie, Queensland, Australia

    Etymology 2

    Compare whimbrel.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A bird, the European widgeon.