Definition

1. 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.

2. 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.

Usage Examples

• 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?

Advanced Usage

• "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.

Variants and Related Words

• 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)

Synonyms

• Noun (sound): Shrill, tweet, toot, blast.
• Verb (to make sound): Toot, pipe, shrill, sing.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• 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.

Related Idioms

• 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.

Noun

1. an inexpensive fipple flute
2. acoustic device that forces air or steam against an edge or into a cavity and so produces a loud shrill sound
3. a small wind instrument that produces a whistling sound by blowing into it
4. the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle
   • the whistle signalled the end of the game
5. the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture

Verb

1. give a signal by whistling
   • She whistled for her maid
2. make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound
   • the kettle was singing
   • the bullet sang past his ear
3. move, send, or bring as if by whistling
   • Her optimism whistled away these worries
4. utter or express by whistling
   • She whistled a melody
5. move with, or as with, a whistling sound
   • The bullets whistled past him
6. make whistling sounds
   • He lay there, snoring and whistling