On a whim Meaning in English
expression
ˈɑn/, /ˈɔn/ /ˈeɪ/, /ə/ /ˈhwɪm/, /ˈwɪm
ON-uh-WIM
ˈɒn/ /æɪ/ /wˈɪm
ON-uh-WIM
Definition
If you do something 'on a whim', you do it suddenly, without planning or much thinking, often just because you feel like it at the moment.
Usage & Nuances
'On a whim' is informal and often used to describe unplanned actions, sometimes with surprising or amusing results. Common with verbs like 'buy', 'travel', 'decide', 'leave'. Often positive or neutral, but can sometimes imply lack of responsibility.
Spanish: por capricho - por impulsoPortuguese (BR): por impulso - por um caprichoPortuguese (PT): por capricho - por impulsoChinese (Simplified): 一时冲动Chinese (Traditional): 一時衝動Hindi: अचानक मन में आना - बिना सोच-विचार केArabic: بدافع مفاجئ - بشكل عفويBengali: হঠাৎ করে - ইচ্ছা থেকেRussian: по прихоти - спонтанноJapanese: 思いつきで - 気まぐれでVietnamese: ngẫu hứng - bốc đồngKorean: 충동적으로 - 즉흥적으로Turkish: içgüdüyle - birdenbireUrdu: اچانک - بغیر سوچے سمجھےIndonesian: secara spontan - tiba-tiba
Example Sentences
She bought a new dress on a whim.
basic
We decided to go to the beach on a whim.
basic
He left his job on a whim.
basic
I grabbed a train ticket to Paris on a whim last weekend.
natural
Sometimes, the best adventures happen on a whim.
natural
He signed up for dance lessons on a whim, and now he loves it.
natural