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Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: whistle for vb - (intr, preposition) informal to seek or expect in vain
whis•tle /ˈhwɪsəl, ˈwɪs-/USA pronunciation v., -tled, -tling, n. v. - to make a high, clear sound by forcing the breath through stretched lips or through the teeth: [no object]He whistled happily to himself.[~ + object]He whistled a happy tune.
- to produce a sound or call resembling a whistle:[no object]The birds were whistling in the trees.
- to signal or call for by or as if by whistling: [no object; (~ + for + object) ]He whistled for her to come down and see him.[~ + object]She whistled her dog to her side.
- [no object] to move with a whistling sound, as a bullet.
n. [countable] - an instrument for producing whistling sounds:The police officer blew her whistle.
- a whistling sound.
Idioms- Idioms blow the whistle, [blow + the + ~ + on + object] to expose crime or other wrongdoing:The accountants blew the whistle on the embezzlers.
- Idioms wet one's whistle, to take a drink.
- Idioms whistle in the dark, [no object] to try to remain brave by or as if by whistling.
whis•tler, n. [countable] WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024whis•tle (hwis′əl, wis′-),USA pronunciation v., -tled, -tling, n. v.i. - to make a clear musical sound, a series of such sounds, or a high-pitched, warbling sound by the forcible expulsion of the breath through a small opening formed by contracting the lips, or through the teeth, with the aid of the tongue.
- to make such a sound or series of sounds otherwise, as by blowing on some device.
- to emit similar sounds from the mouth, as birds do.
- (of a device) to produce a similar sound when actuated by steam or the like:This teakettle whistles when it boils.
- to move, go, pass, etc., with a whistling or whizzing sound, as a bullet or the wind.
v.t. - to produce by whistling:to whistle a tune.
- to call, direct, or signal by or as by whistling:He whistled his dog over.
- to send with a whistling or whizzing sound.
- whistle for, to demand or expect without success:After promising to pay, he told us we could whistle for our money.
- whistle in the dark, to attempt to summon up one's courage or optimism in a difficult situation:He says his business will improve next year, but he's probably just whistling in the dark.
n. - an instrument for producing whistling sounds by means of the breath, steam, etc., as a small wooden or tin tube, a pipe, or a similar device with an air chamber containing a small ball that oscillates when air is forced through an opening, producing a high-pitched, warbling tone.
- a sound produced by whistling:a prolonged whistle of astonishment.
- a simple fipple flute.
- blow the whistle, to expose the existence of mischief or wrongdoing:The agent was taking bribes until someone finally blew the whistle.
- blow the whistle on:
- to bring a stop to;
halt:Congress has blown the whistle on all unnecessary expenditures for the program. - to expose (wrongdoing or wrongdoers):to blow the whistle on corruption in high places.
- Informal Terms wet one's whistle, to take a drink.
- bef. 950; (verb, verbal) Middle English whistlen, Old English hwistlian; akin to Old Norse hvīsla to whistle, hviskra to whisper; see whine; (noun, nominal) Middle English; Old English hwistle instrument, akin to the verb, verbal
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