whistle for

British  

verb

1. informal (intr, preposition) to seek or expect in vain

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whistle for Idioms  

1. Ask for or expect without any prospect of success, as in If you want a cash refund, you can just whistle for it. [Mid-1700s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

whistle for

“It was basically a dog whistle for the city or vice to shut down what you’re doing.”

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026

No wonder Arteta joined his players on the pitch after the final whistle for a raucous celebration in front of the jubilant Arsenal fans.

From Barron's ● Feb. 22, 2026

You can get a shockingly loud emergency whistle for just a few dollars.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2023

Assistant coach Joshua Spencer remained on the field after the whistle for halftime to further argue with the referee crew.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 5, 2023

Every now and then the engineer would play on his whistle for the people in the towns he passed by.

From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston

Related Words

• appeal
• challenge
• claim
• expect
• force
• order
• press
• question
• request
• require
• stipulate
• urge