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wailing

Date: Jun 07 2001

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

“We would set up all our equipment outside and just start wailing.”
—Steven Tyler, lead singer of the band Aerosmith

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

wailing has several meanings:
doing something in an intense way
hitting, pounding
screaming very loud
complaining

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

You can use wailing when you’re referring to an intense action. If your baby sister is screaming, you could say she’s wailing. If your brother is hitting you on the arm, you could tell him to stop wailing on you. If your dad is using an axe to chop some wood, you could say he’s wailing on that wood.
(In order to sound natural, you should always use the verb ‘to wail’ in the progressive form – wailing. It is rarely used in other forms.)

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

””Jeff was wailing on the ball in the game last night. He’s an awesome baseball player. He’s already hit 22 home runs this season.”“

””My girlfriend is always wailing about something. It seems like she’s never happy. I don’t know what to do.”“

””I was wailing on the lock with a hammer, but I couldn’t break it. I’m going ot have to get someone to cut the lock if I don’t find my keys soon.”“

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

In this context, I believe “wailing” means to go all out, go crazy, or full-tilt. In other words, to use every ounce of energy. We can “wail” on a guitar, a person, or an object. But, we very seldom “wail” on homework, office work, or house work.
by Jessie
Though I only heard this word before in contexts like “the wailing wall” in Jerusalem where it means to lament or cry with pain or grief, my guess would be here it stands for singing loud(-ly, Im not sure which adverbial form would be correct here?) and probably not too melodicly. P.S. I love Aerosmith.
by Ute
“Wailing” slang to me is: “to cry, to wheep, to complain about something, to whine, to scream or to roar(wind)
by Mehmet (Adana, Turkey)
You can hear the wind wailing in the chimney.
by Alicia (Argentina)
Wailing means to say something loud. I think in
this sentences might be about they wants to sing.
by Aris

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