walloping
C2informal
Definition
Meaning
A very heavy blow or defeat; a severe beating.
Can describe something exceptionally large or impressive; used as an intensifier for emphasis (e.g., 'a walloping success').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes physical impact or metaphorical defeat. As an adjective/adverb, it functions as a vivid informal intensifier.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in British English, particularly the 'defeat' sense. In American English, more likely as an intensifier ('walloping great').
Connotations
Humorous, emphatic, slightly old-fashioned in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency overall. British usage shows slightly broader collocational range.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
give [sb] a wallopingtake a walloping from [sb/sth]a walloping [noun] (e.g., victory, success)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(come off) a poor second after a walloping”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in informal talk about a market defeat ('Our product took a walloping from the competitor').
Academic
Very rare. Would not appear in formal prose.
Everyday
Informal conversation, especially about sports, competition, or size.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- The boxer was walloping great, a real champion in his day.
- It's walloping obvious what went wrong.
American English
- The movie was walloping successful at the box office.
- He's walloping tall for his age.
adjective
British English
- He told a walloping great lie to get out of trouble.
- They faced a walloping tax bill.
American English
- The team celebrated a walloping victory.
- It's a walloping big house on the hill.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bigger boy gave him a walloping after school.
- Our team took a real walloping in the final match, losing 5-0.
- That's a walloping great mistake you've made!
- The incumbent party suffered a walloping defeat in the local elections, losing nearly all their seats.
- Despite the walloping criticism from reviewers, the film found an audience.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a WALL OPening up after a single, massive blow – a WALL-OP-ing strike.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION/ARGUMENT IS PHYSICAL COMBAT (to give/take a walloping); INTENSITY IS SIZE (a walloping great thing).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'волнующий' (exciting). The root is 'wallop' (бить), not 'волна' (wave).
- Avoid literal translation as 'ударяющий' – use 'сокрушительный' for the adjective sense.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing.
- Confusing it with 'whopping' (though they are near-synonyms as intensifiers).
- Incorrectly using as a standard adjective (*'a walloping person').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'walloping' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is decidedly informal and often has a humorous or emphatic tone.
The base form is 'wallop' (to hit hard). 'Walloping' is the present participle/gerund of that verb, but in the data requested, it's treated as a noun/adjective/adverb derived from that verb.
As intensifiers meaning 'very large', they are nearly identical. 'Whopping' is more common and slightly less informal. 'Walloping' retains a stronger connection to the idea of a blow.
It is somewhat dated but still understood and used, particularly in set phrases like 'a walloping defeat' or 'walloping great'.