- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- to demand or expect without success:After promising to pay, he told us we could whistle for our money.
- 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.
- to take a drink.
- 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.
- See entry at whistle past the graveyard.
- to produce (shrill or flutelike musical sounds), as by passing breath through a narrow constriction most easily formed by the pursed lips
- to signal, summon, or command by whistling or blowing a whistle
- (of a kettle, train, etc) to produce (a shrill sound) caused by the emission of steam through a small aperture
- 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
- to try to keep up one's confidence in spite of fear
- 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
- 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
- to take an alcoholic drink
- blow the whistle (usually foll by on) informal
- to inform (on)
- to bring a stop (to)
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