Crack the Whip

Crack the Whip

Crack the Whip is a simple outdoor children's game that involves physical coordination, and is usually played in small groups, either on grass or ice. One player, chosen as the "head" of the whip, runs (or skates) around in random directions, with subsequent players holding on to the hand of the previous player. The entire "tail" of the whip moves in those directions, but with much more force toward the end of the tail. The longer the tail, the more the forces act on the last player, and the tighter they have to hold on.

As the game progresses, and more players fall off, some of those who were previously located near the end of the tail and have fallen off can "move up" and be in a more secure position by grabbing onto the tail as it is moving, provided they can get back on before some of the others do. There is no objective to this game other than the enjoyment of the experience.

References to this game go back to the 1890s in England.[citation needed] The game is also illustrated in Winslow Homer's painting Snap the Whip of 1872.


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  • crack the whip — phrasal : to adopt sometimes suddenly or unexpectedly an authoritative, tyrannical, or threatening pose or policy he has made great industrial corporations jump … when he cracks the whip Time * * * 1. to demand obedience, hard work, or efficiency …   Useful english dictionary

  • crack the whip —    If you crack the whip, you use your authority to make someone obey you or work more efficiently, usually by threatening them.     Every so often I ll crack the whip to make sure we meet the deadline …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • crack-the-whip — | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ noun : a game in which players join hands in a line and rush forward together until the leader s sudden turn causes the line to swing around rapidly often throwing off players at the opposite end * * * crack the whip «KRAK thuh… …   Useful english dictionary

  • crack the whip — try to make someone work hard or obey you by threatening them We had to crack the whip in order to get the job finished by the weekend …   Idioms and examples

  • crack the whip — {v. phr.}, {informal} To get obedience or cooperation by threats of punishment. * /If the children won t behave when I reason with them, I have to crack the whip./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • crack the whip — {v. phr.}, {informal} To get obedience or cooperation by threats of punishment. * /If the children won t behave when I reason with them, I have to crack the whip./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • crack\ the\ whip — v. phr. informal To get obedience or cooperation by threats of punishment. If the children won t behave when I reason with them, I have to crack the whip …   Словарь американских идиом

  • crack the whip — to use your authority to cause people to do more or do what you want. He is one editor who knows how to crack the whip, so his authors generally hand in their assignments on time …   New idioms dictionary

  • crack the whip — 1. to demand obedience, hard work, or efficiency from others in a harsh or stern manner. 2. Also called snap the whip. a game in which players in a line, each holding the next, run, roller skate, or ice skate for a distance until the leader veers …   Universalium

  • crack the whip — phrasal to adopt or apply an authoritative, tyrannical, or threatening approach or policy (as in demanding harder work from employees) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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