whistle
Noun:
- A small wind instrument that produces a high-pitched sound when air is blown through it: A device, often made of metal or plastic, used to make a loud, sharp sound.
- The clear, high-pitched sound made by forcing air or steam through a small opening: This can be the sound produced by a whistle instrument, a person's lips, the wind, or a kettle.
- An act or instance of producing such a sound, often as a signal: The use of a whistle sound to communicate, such as to summon someone or signal the start or end of an event.
Verb:
- To produce a clear, high-pitched sound by forcing air through a small opening, such as pursed lips or a whistle instrument: The act of making the sound.
- To move with or make a high, shrill sound: Describing the sound of something moving quickly through the air.
- To signal or summon someone or something by making this sound: Using the sound to call attention or give a command.
- To produce a melody by whistling: To create a tune using the whistling sound from one's mouth.
Noun:
- The referee blew his whistle to stop the game.
- I heard the whistle of the train as it approached the station.
- She gave a loud whistle to get her friend's attention.
Verb:
- He likes to whistle while he works.
- The wind whistled through the cracks in the old window.
- The policeman whistled for the car to stop.
- Can you whistle that song for me?
"to whistle for": To try to get or summon something, often with the implication that it is unlikely or futile.
- If you think he's going to apologize, you can whistle for it. (You are unlikely to get it.)
"to whistle past": To move past something quickly while making a whistling sound; often used metaphorically to mean to ignore a danger or problem.
- The bullet whistled past his ear.
- He just whistled past all the warning signs. (He ignored them.)
"to whistle in the dark": To try to stay cheerful or brave in a frightening or uncertain situation.
- His optimistic talk was just whistling in the dark; he was actually very worried.
Whistler (n): A person or thing that whistles.
- He's a great whistler; he can do entire symphonies.
Whistling (n/adj): The act or sound of whistling; producing a whistle.
- The constant whistling was getting on my nerves. (n)
- We heard a whistling sound from the kettle. (adj)
- Noun (sound): Shrill, tweet, toot, blast.
- Verb (to make sound): Toot, pipe, shrill, sing.
Whistle away: To dismiss or dispel something lightly, as if by whistling.
- She tried to whistle away her fears.
Whistle up: To summon or produce something, often quickly or from limited resources.
- He can whistle up a fantastic meal from almost nothing in the kitchen.
Blow the whistle (on someone/something): To report illegal or unacceptable activities to the authorities.
- An employee finally blew the whistle on the company's corrupt practices.
(as) clean as a whistle: Extremely clean or clear; also can mean without any problems or guilt.
- The kitchen was as clean as a whistle after they finished.
- The investigation found his record was clean as a whistle.
Wet one's whistle: To have a drink.
- Let's stop at the pub and wet our whistles.
- an inexpensive fipple flute
- acoustic device that forces air or steam against an edge or into a cavity and so produces a loud shrill sound
- a small wind instrument that produces a whistling sound by blowing into it
- the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle
- the whistle signalled the end of the game
- the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
- give a signal by whistling
- She whistled for her maid
- make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound
- the kettle was singing
- the bullet sang past his ear
- move, send, or bring as if by whistling
- Her optimism whistled away these worries
- utter or express by whistling
- She whistled a melody
- move with, or as with, a whistling sound
- The bullets whistled past him
- make whistling sounds
- He lay there, snoring and whistling