whistle for

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Verb

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

1. (idiomatic) To ask for with no chance of success.
   • 2009, Max Arthur, We Will Remember Them: Voices from the Aftermath of the Great War, →ISBN:

     If we wanted something we could whistle for it - but if the Australians wanted something you'd got to get it for them, or else.

   • 2012, Joan Jonker, Walking My Baby Back Home, →ISBN:

     She could whistle for it now; she wouldn't get a penny from him even if she crawled on all fours.

   • 2014, Tess Read, The Secret Diary of Eric Cowell - Aged 6 1/2 months, →ISBN:

     And if it was milk I was after from that environment I could clearly whistle for it.

   • 1973, Doris Lessing, The Grass is Singing, →ISBN, page 96:

     And as for ceilings, you can whistle for them. I have lived in this house for six years and it hasn't hurt me.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see whistle,‎ for.

Translations

Translations

• Finnish: kysellä turhaan
• French: pouvoir toujours courir (fr)

Anagrams

• fish trowel