Antonyms for the phrase "gave a whirl" would be words or phrases that denote the opposite of trying or attempting something. These would include words like give up, surrender, abandon, quit, or withdraw. When we say "gave a whirl," we mean that we tried something or experimented with something new. In contrast, giving up means to stop trying altogether, while surrendering means to acknowledge defeat. Abandoning a task can imply neglecting or forsaking it, and quitting often implies leaving a job or activity. Withdrawing, on the other hand, means to remove oneself completely from a situation. Therefore, the antonyms for "gave a whirl" are giving up, surrendering, abandoning, quitting, and withdrawing.