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

Brahim Diaz's Panenka penalty was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and referee Jean-Jacques Ndala then immediately blew the whistle for full-time.

From BBC ● Jan. 29, 2026

Did they whet your whistle for the book?

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2025

The bell captain blew his whistle for us to get a move on.

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Related Words

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