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white whale

A goal/object which one seeks obsessively

Etymology:

  • A reference to the titular sperm whale in the novel 'Moby-Dick' by Herman Melville. The story chronicle's Captain Ahab's hubristic hunt for revenge on Moby-Dick for taking his leg.
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I only need one more book to complete my collection; it's been my white whale for several years.

Submitted by zacharyc.64973 on December 09, 2024

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    "white whale." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 11 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/white-whale_64468>.

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