whistle

whis|tle¹ [ˈwısəl] v

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1¦(high sound)¦

2¦(use a whistle)¦

3¦(go/move fast)¦

4¦(steam train/kettle)¦

5¦(bird)¦

6 be whistling in the dark

7 somebody can whistle for something

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1.) ¦(HIGH SOUND)¦ [I and T]

to make a high or musical sound by blowing air out through your lips

▪ Adam whistled happily on his way to work.

▪ I heard this song on the radio and I've been whistling it all day.

▪ He whistled a tune as he strolled down the corridor.

whistle to sb

(=whistle to get someone's attention)

▪ Dad whistled to us to come home for dinner.

whistle at sb

(=whistle to let someone know that you think they are attractive)

▪ Men are always whistling at Heidi on the street.

2.) ¦(USE A WHISTLE)¦

to make a high sound by blowing into a whistle

▪ The referee whistled and the game began.

3.) ¦(GO/MOVE FAST)¦ [I always + adverb/preposition]

to move quickly, making a whistling sound

▪ Bullets and shells were whistling overhead.

▪ They listened to the wind whistling through the trees.

4.) ¦(STEAM TRAIN/KETTLE)¦ [I]

if a steam train or ↑kettle whistles, it makes a high sound when air or steam is forced through a small hole

5.) ¦(BIRD)¦ [I]

if a bird whistles, it makes a high musical sound

6.) be whistling in the dark [i]informal

to be trying to show that you are brave when you are afraid, or that you know about something when you do not

▪ Does he know what he's talking about or is he just whistling in the dark?

7.) sb can whistle for sth

BrE spoken used to tell someone that there is no chance of them getting what they have asked for

whistle ²

whistle² n

[: Old English; Origin: hwistle]

1.) a small object that produces a high whistling sound when you blow into it

▪ The lifeguard blew his whistle .

2.) a high sound made by blowing a whistle, by blowing air out through your lips, or when air or steam is forced through a small opening

▪ Larsson scored just minutes before the final whistle.

low/shrill/high-pitched etc whistle

▪ Sanders gave a low whistle when he saw the contents of the box.

3.) a piece of equipment on a train or boat that makes a high noise when air is forced through it

4.) the sound of something moving quickly through the air

whistle of

▪ We could hear the whistle of the jets as they passed overhead.

→blow the whistle on sth at ↑blow¹ (17), clean as a whistle at ↑clean¹ (1), ↑penny whistle, ↑wolf whistle