Meaning
A fair opportunity to take part, compete or prove one's ability. Informal. Fair go is the shorter and especially characteristic Australian equivalent. Regional use: Especially Australian English; also used in British English.
Origin
The expression uses the image of a driver getting a turn to crack or wield the whip. Its figurative history belongs to wider English rather than to a uniquely Australian coinage, but it became strongly at home in Australian appeals for fairness alongside fair go. Australian fair-crack wording is documented by the early 20th century; a single originating incident is not known.
Research Sources
References used to check this entry’s meaning, history, or documented forms.
Variants
- A fair crack
- A fair go
- Get a fair crack of the whip
- Give someone a fair crack of the whip
Usage Examples
- Every apprentice deserves a fair crack of the whip at the practical test.
- Give the new bowler a fair crack before changing the team again.