whistle

[ wis-uhl, hwis- ]

/ ˈwɪs əl, ˈʰwɪs- /

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See synonyms for: whistle / whistling on Thesaurus.com

Definition of whistle

verb (used without object), whis·tled, whis·tling.

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.

verb (used with object), whis·tled, whis·tling.

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.

noun

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.

Verb Phrases

whistle for, to demand or expect without success: After promising to pay, he told us we could whistle for our money.

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Idioms about whistle

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.

wet one's whistle, Informal. to take a drink.

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.

whistle past the graveyard. See entry at whistle past the graveyard.

Origin of whistle

First recorded before 950; (verb) Middle English whistlen, Old English hwistlian; akin to Old Norse hvīsla “to whistle,” hviskra “to whisper”; see whine; (noun) Middle English; Old English hwistle “instrument,” akin to the verb

OTHER WORDS FROM whistle

whis·tle·a·ble, adjectivein·ter·whis·tle, verb (used with object), in·ter·whis·tled, in·ter·whis·tling.un·whis·tled, adjective

Words nearby whistle

whispering gallery, whisperous, whispery, whist, whist drive, whistle, whistleblower, whistle Dixie, whistle for, whistle in the dark, whistle past the graveyard

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use whistle in a sentence

Root cells release malic acid, which acts like a shepherd’s whistle.
Junk Food Is Bad For Plants, Too - Issue 90: Something Green|Anne Biklé & David R. Montgomery|September 23, 2020|Nautilus
Influencers, who are paid by brands to promote their products to their thousands of followers, generally agree that Reels lacks some of the bells and whistles of TikTok.
Instagram’s would-be TikTok killer, Reels, struggles to gain traction|Danielle Abril|September 22, 2020|Fortune
There’s no whistle, bell, or any other serious notification of when the harmless pre-ejaculate ends and the fluids of fatherhood begin.
Does Pre-Confessing Clear You of Sexual Causality?|Eugene Robinson|September 20, 2020|Ozy
Snarky Alexis may have had a ritzy Rolls-Royce, but today’s Sentra—completely redesigned for 2020—offers a lot more bells and whistles.
Snazzy sedans and comfort rides|Joe Phillips|September 19, 2020|Washington Blade

Yet offense continued to rule even once the whistles became less frequent.
Why Have NBA Offenses Been So Good In The Bubble?|Mike Prada|August 20, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
“Clean as a whistle,” says a senior investigator involved in the case.
Exclusive: Inside a Cop-Killer’s Final Hours|Michael Daly|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But admit it: at the first whistle, we all paid attention, to a part of the world that would usually prefer us all to butt out.
Pyongyang Primer: Kenneth Bae Comes Home|Kevin Bleyer|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He is on trial along with three others, and Bogucki is blowing the whistle on government practices he says are not fair play.
A Navy Lawyer Cries Foul on Gitmo’s Kafkaesque Legal System|Eleanor Clift|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not a lot of air tooting that whistle, no matter what the video would lead viewers to believe.
Anti-Vaxxers Have a New Hero|Russell Saunders|September 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And yep, the flag can be used in dog whistle fashion to signal a position on “those blacks.”
We've Got Bigger Problems Than a Confederate Flag|John McWhorter|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Robert uttered a shrill, piercing whistle which might have been heard back at the wharf.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Goodell paused in the doorway and emitted a whistle of surprise at sight of a horse in one of the stalls.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Then he goes out, gits into his Pullman section, blows his punkin whistle and departs.
Alec Lloyd, Cowpuncher|Eleanor Gates
He only tore himself from her reluctant arms as the final whistle sounded from the engine.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
In a lull of the raging earth the distant whistle of the train could be distinctly heard.
A Lost Hero|Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward and Herbert D. Ward

British Dictionary definitions for whistle

whistle

/ (ˈwɪsəl) /

verb

to produce (shrill or flutelike musical sounds), as by passing breath through a narrow constriction most easily formed by the pursed lipshe whistled a melody

(tr) to signal, summon, or command by whistling or blowing a whistlethe referee whistled the end of the game

(of a kettle, train, etc) to produce (a shrill sound) caused by the emission of steam through a small aperture

(intr) to move with a whistling sound caused by rapid passage through the air

(of animals, esp birds) to emit (a shrill sound) resembling human whistling

whistle in the dark to try to keep up one's confidence in spite of fear

noun

a device for making a shrill high-pitched sound by means of air or steam under pressure

a shrill sound effected by whistling

a whistling sound, as of a bird, bullet, the wind, etc

a signal, warning, command, etc, transmitted by or as if by a whistle

the act of whistling

music any pipe that is blown down its end and produces sounds on the principle of a flue pipe, usually having as a mouthpiece a fipple cut in the side

wet one's whistle informal to take an alcoholic drink

blow the whistle (usually foll by on) informal

to inform (on)
to bring a stop (to)

Word Origin for whistle

Old English hwistlian; related to Old Norse hvīsla

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with whistle

whistle

In addition to the idioms beginning with whistle

whistle Dixie
whistle for
whistle in the dark

also see:

blow the whistle on
clean as a whistle
slick as a whistle
wet one's whistle

whistle

Definition of whistle

Idioms about whistle

Origin of whistle

OTHER WORDS FROM whistle

Words nearby whistle

Words related to whistle

How to use whistle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for whistle

Word Origin for whistle

Other Idioms and Phrases with whistle