Showing results for "whistle"

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Slang dictionary results for whistle.

whistle

American  

[wis-uhl, hwis-] / ˈwɪs əl, ˈʰwɪs- /

verb (used without object)

• whistles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• whistled,
  past participle,  past
• whistling
  present participle

1. 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.

2. to make such a sound or series of sounds otherwise, as by blowing on some device.

3. to emit similar sounds from the mouth, as birds do.

4. (of a device) to produce a similar sound when actuated by steam or the like.

   This teakettle whistles when it boils.

5. to move, go, pass, etc., with a whistling or whizzing sound, as a bullet or the wind.

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verb (used with object)

• whistles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• whistled,
  past participle,  past
• whistling
  present participle

1. to produce by whistling.

   to whistle a tune.

2. to call, direct, or signal by or as by whistling.

   He whistled his dog over.

3. to send with a whistling or whizzing sound.

noun

• whistles
  plural

1. 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.

2. a sound produced by whistling.

   a prolonged whistle of astonishment.

3. a simple fipple flute.

verb phrase

1. whistle for to demand or expect without success.

   After promising to pay, he told us we could whistle for our money.

idioms

1. 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.

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

3. whistle past the graveyard. see whistle past the graveyard.

4. blow the whistle on,

   1. to bring a stop to; halt.

      Congress has blown the whistle on all unnecessary expenditures for the program.

   2. to expose (wrongdoing or wrongdoers).

      to blow the whistle on corruption in high places.

5. blow the whistle, to expose the existence of mischief or wrongdoing.

   The agent was taking bribes until someone finally blew the whistle.

whistle British  

/ ˈwɪsəl /

verb

1. to produce (shrill or flutelike musical sounds), as by passing breath through a narrow constriction most easily formed by the pursed lips

   he whistled a melody

2. (tr) to signal, summon, or command by whistling or blowing a whistle

   the referee whistled the end of the game

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

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

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

6. to try to keep up one's confidence in spite of fear

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noun

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

2. a shrill sound effected by whistling

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

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

5. the act of whistling

6. 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

7. informal to take an alcoholic drink

8. informal (usually foll by on)

   1. to inform (on)

   2. to bring a stop (to)

whistle More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing whistle

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interwhistle
  verb (used with object)
• unwhistled
  adjective
• whistleable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• whistles
  plural

Participles

• whistling
  present
• whistled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• whistle
  simple
• whistles
  simple
• have whistled
  perfect
• has whistled
  perfect
• am whistling
  progressive
• are whistling
  progressive
• is whistling
  progressive
• have been whistling
  perfect progressive
• has been whistling
  perfect progressive

Past

• whistled
  simple
• had whistled
  perfect
• was whistling
  progressive
• were whistling
  progressive
• had been whistling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will whistle
  simple
• will have whistled
  perfect
• will be whistling
  progressive
• will have been whistling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

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

Explanation

A whistle is a small wind instrument, and you probably know people who are good at whistling without an instrument. Trains have whistles, and the wind whistles too. The world is full of whistles. Whistle is a word with several meanings, but they have in common a similar high-pitched, airy sound. This is different from most instruments. You can't tuba without a tuba, but you can whistle without a whistle. Sometimes people's teeth make a whistling sound by accident. Referees and traffic cops carry whistles to get people's attention. Other people whistle for many reasons: because they're impressed, see something they like, or just want to say, "Hey you!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

whistle whistles whistled whistling

Music is embedded in our brains and in our bodies, expressed with every rhythmic breath and step we take, each time we clap our hands, stomp our feet, beat our chests, whistle, hum or sing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

An emotional Messi fell to the ground as the full-time whistle blew and was thrown in the air by his team-mates as they celebrated.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

"One of the rescuers asked anyone trapped to whistle, and someone whistled back," he said near a pancaked building.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

“When the final whistle blew in the semifinal, I felt like I’d written my name into soccer history by representing my country. It was one of the most sublime moments of my career.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

Blowing a short whistle, I tug Midnight’s rein.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

That is the popular constitutional contest the whistles, warnings, carpools, legal observers, and barricades made visible.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

Simpler motifs, like flat whistles, Bacquelé explained, are often found in tropical environments, apparently because they help the birds make themselves heard through the busy, biodiverse soundscape and dense vegetation.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

At an island resort such as Anantara Koh Yao Yai, a 90-minute Thai massage costs around $175, and comes with all the bells and whistles of luxury experience.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

Sometimes it’s best to strip away all the bells and whistles and just tell a story.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

Then a gust of wind whistles by, so strong I feel the chill on my skin.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

"I whistled it because we were making a cowboy song and I wanted the drop to not be my vocal."

From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026

In Tehran, euphoric opponents of the regime cheered and whistled as honking cars passed by.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2026

But the officials ruled the play had been whistled dead before the shot.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 15, 2026

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks was suspended one game without pay by the NBA on Thursday after being whistled for his 16th technical foul of the season.

From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026

Petey held a bag open, whistled, and his drone tools hovered from their racked positions into the sack.

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles

DeChambeau reportedly stayed out on the driving range until after dark, at times whistling, humming and singing while hitting balls and offering reporters snacks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

Who among us would not exchange his mental state for that of a whistling idiot?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

There’s a perfectly non-racial explanation for all of the cat and dog whistling.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026

“Orange County” is my particular favorite track; it feels light and upbeat with some whistling throughout — yet lyrically explores grief while also giving this feeling of hope in the darkness.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

Soon, the famous whistling arrows of the Mongol nomads would shriek through the perforated rock and find their targets.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Related Words

• blare
• hiss