whale on

verb2

1. •
   (slang) To strike an opponent heavily and repeatedly in a fight.

   • If he had been able to break loose from his handlers and the referee, he would have jumped Paret to the floor and whaled on him there. — 1962
2. •
   (slang) To beat heavily on anything.

   • The wrench wouldn’t budge, even though Tony was just whaling on it with a big old sledge hammer.