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Swish vs Whack - What's the difference?

swish | whack |

As nouns the difference between swish and whack

is that swish is a short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction while whack is a blow, impact or slap.

As verbs the difference between swish and whack

is that swish is to make a rustling sound while moving while whack is to hit, slap or strike.

As an adjective swish

is (british|colloquial) sophisticated; fashionable; smooth.

swish

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • (British, colloquial) sophisticated; fashionable; smooth.
    • This restaurant looks very swish — it even has linen tablecloths.
  • Attractive, stylish
  • * 2014 , , " Southampton hammer eight past hapless Sunderland in barmy encounter", The Guardian , 18 October 2014:
    • The Saints, who started the day third in the table, went marching on thanks to their own swish play and some staggering defending by the visitors.
  • effeminate.

    • Noun

    (es)
  • A short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction.
  • A sound of liquid flowing inside a container.
  • *1898 , , (Moonfleet) Chapter 4
  • *:There were four or five men in the vault already, and I could hear more coming down the passage, and guessed from their heavy footsteps that they were carrying burdens. There was a sound, too, of dumping kegs down on the ground, with a swish of liquor inside them, and then the noise of casks being moved.
  • A movement of an animal's tail
  • A twig or bundle of twigs, used for administering beatings; a switch
  • (basketball) A successful basketball shot that does not touch the rim or backboard.
  • An effeminate male homosexual.

    • Related terms

    * swoosh * whoosh

    Verb

    (es)
  • To make a rustling sound while moving.
    • The cane swishes .
  • To flourish with a swishing sound.
    • to swish a cane back and forth
    (Coleridge)
  • (transitive, slang, dated) To flog; to lash.
    • (Thackeray)
  • (basketball) To make a successful basketball shot that does not touch the rim or backboard.
  • (gay slang) To mince or otherwise to behave in an effeminate manner.
    • I shall not swish ; I'll merely act limp-wristed.

    whack

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A blow, impact or slap.
  • A share or portion.
  • * 1951 , , Letters to John Middleton Murry, 1913-1922 ,
    • For one thing I had a splendid supper when I got on board—a whack of cold, lean beef and pighells, bread, butter ad lib. , tea, and plenty of good bread.
  • An attempt.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To hit, slap or strike.
  • * G. W. Cable
    • Rodsmen were whacking their way through willow brakes.
  • (slang) To kill, bump off.
  • To share or parcel out.
  • (label) To beat convincingly; to thrash.
  • * 2012 , Ryan Pyette, Majors, Panthers play mind games, The London Free Press:
    • The fidgety Majors were whacked 9-1 by the Kitchener Panthers at Couch and now trail their rivals 2-0 in an increasingly uncomfortable best-of-seven Intercounty Baseball League first-round series.
  • To surpass; to better.
  • * 2012 , Steve Cullen, Total Flyfisher:
    • Recently I was over in Ireland, I love the place, proper fishing, can't whack it!

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * out of whack * whack off * whack the illy * whacky English onomatopoeias