whistle Dixie

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Verb 1.3 Usage notes

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Refers to the song "Dixie".

[edit] Verb

to whistle Dixie (third-person singular simple present whistles Dixie, present participle whistling Dixie, simple past and past participle whistled Dixie)

1. (idiomatic) (primarily US) To engage in a pointless or unproductive activity; to do something without resolve, seriousness or commitment.

   If you're not active, then you're just whistling Dixie by hanging around here.

[edit] Usage notes

• Frequently used in the negative, to mean someone or something is serious, as in, When I say that, I'm not just whistling Dixie, I really mean it.