whistle
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++whis·tle1 /ˈwɪsəl/ ●●○ verb 1 high sound 高声 [intransitive, transitive]CSING to make a high or musical sound by blowing air out through your lips 吹口哨；用口哨吹奏(曲调) Adam whistled happily on his way to work. 亚当在上班路上愉快地吹着口哨。 I heard this song on the radio and I’ve been whistling it all day. 我在收音机里听到这首歌，就吹了一整天这个调子的口哨。 He whistled a tune as he strolled down the corridor. 他口里吹着一首曲子沿着走廊缓步走去。whistle to somebody (=whistle to get someone’s attention) 向某人吹口哨 Dad whistled to us to come home for dinner. 爸爸吹口哨叫我们回家吃饭。whistle at somebody (=whistle to let someone know that you think they are attractive) 对着某人吹口哨 Men are always whistling at Heidi on the street. 街上总有男人对海迪吹口哨。2 use a whistle 用哨子 [intransitive]CDS to make a high sound by blowing into a whistle 吹哨子 The referee whistled and the game began. 裁判哨声一响，比赛开始了。3 go/move fast 快速移动 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]CFAST/QUICK to move quickly, making a whistling sound 呼啸着行进 Bullets and shells were whistling overhead. 子弹和炮弹在头顶呼啸。 They listened to the wind whistling through the trees. 他们听着风在树林中呼啸。4. steam train/kettle 蒸汽火车/水壶 [intransitive]CD if a steam train or kettle whistles, it makes a high sound when air or steam is forced through a small hole 鸣叫，发出啸叫声5. bird 鸟 [intransitive]CHBB if a bird whistles, it makes a high musical sound 〔鸟〕啭鸣6 be whistling in the dark informalBRAVE to be trying to show that you are brave when you are afraid, or that you know about something when you do not 故作镇定，虚张声势；不懂乱说 Does he know what he’s talking about or is he just whistling in the dark? 他知道自己在说什么吗？还是只是在吹牛皮？7. somebody can whistle for something British English spokenIMPOSSIBLE used to tell someone that there is no chance of them getting what they have asked for 某人在空指望某物；某人一定得不到某物→ See Verb table
DSDGa small object that produces a high whistling sound when you blow into it 哨子 The lifeguard blew his whistle. 救生员吹响哨子。2 CSOUNDa 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 口哨声；哨子声；汽笛声 Larsson scored just minutes before the final whistle. 拉尔森就在终场哨声响起前几分钟进球得分。low/shrill/high-pitched etc whistle Sanders gave a low whistle when he saw the contents of the box. 桑德斯看到盒子里的东西时轻轻地吹了一声口哨。3. a piece of equipment on a train or boat that makes a high noise when air is forced through it 汽笛4 CSOUNDthe sound of something moving quickly through the air 呼啸声whistle of We could hear the whistle of the jets as they passed overhead. 我们听到喷气机从头顶飞过时的呼啸声。 → blow the whistle on something at blow1(17), → clean as a whistle at clean1(1), penny whistle, wolf whistle
Examples from the Corpus
whistle• The audience hooted, whistled, and laughed.• He stacked crates one on top of the other, whistling as he did so.• When I got home he was already in his room, whistling away cheerfully.• You belong on your own block, where I can whistle for you.• The kettle was whistling on the stove.• She turned, and another something whistled past her ear.• A bullet whistled past his left cheek.• So I went to school and sat in class and memorized more than understood and whistled past the academic graveyard.• Lucie whistled sharply to catch her attention, then beckoned her over to stand beside him.• You've been whistling that tune all day.• Fans yelled and whistled when the band came on stage.• The ideas, the whistling words, they throbbed in all the senses.whistled ... tune• He whistled a tune as he strolled down the corridor.whistle2 ●●○ noun [countable] 1 DSDGa small object that produces a high whistling sound when you blow into it 哨子 The lifeguard blew his whistle. 救生员吹响哨子。2 CSOUNDa 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 口哨声；哨子声；汽笛声 Larsson scored just minutes before the final whistle. 拉尔森就在终场哨声响起前几分钟进球得分。low/shrill/high-pitched etc whistle Sanders gave a low whistle when he saw the contents of the box. 桑德斯看到盒子里的东西时轻轻地吹了一声口哨。3. a piece of equipment on a train or boat that makes a high noise when air is forced through it 汽笛4 CSOUNDthe sound of something moving quickly through the air 呼啸声whistle of We could hear the whistle of the jets as they passed overhead. 我们听到喷气机从头顶飞过时的呼啸声。 → blow the whistle on something at blow1(17), → clean as a whistle at clean1(1), penny whistle, wolf whistleExamples from the Corpus
whistle• Carry a whistle and a spare length of rope which can be used for towing others or making repairs.• The boy gave a high whistle and was joined by another.• No bells, no whistles, no dancing bears.• From the direction of the North River came the long piercing stab of a steam whistle.• Just before the whistle blew Vernon thought she had seen him; at any rate she was looking in his direction.• Ashley heard the whistle of the ax as it swung by.• There was the whistle of a bomb which got nearer and nearer.• Suddenly, all over Illinois, train whistles began blowing in the middle of the night.blew ... whistle• The Referee glanced at his watch and blew the whistle for half-time.• I blew my whistle till I blew the pea out of it.• But I never blew the whistle on him.• Needless to say the ref blew the whistle exactly on time.• This made her angrier than before, and she blew her silver whistle twice.• After a minute somebody blew a whistle, and we all rushed to the door.• Miss Verjec blew her whistle and walked angrily towards those who had stopped playing and fallen down.• Was he the one who blew the whistle?low/shrill/high-pitched etc whistle• Flora gave a shrill whistle and started trotting down the cliff.• She was still pondering on this mystery when a low whistle came from the other side of the ditch.• A high-pitched whistle screeched along the line.• A shrill whistle could be discerned, audible above the scrape and screech of the music.• A shrill whistle is blown angrily by a shivering soldier, a sentry at the tomb.• Call a rather feeble high-pitched whistle or whine.• Calls a short high-pitched whistle and a harsh grating note.Origin whistle2 Old English hwistlewhis·tle1 verbwhistle2 nounChineseSyllable
high sound a to make by or musical Corpus
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whistle
whis‧tle1 /ˈwɪsəl/ 
verb
1. HIGH SOUND [intransitive and transitive] 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 somebody (=whistle to get someone’s attention)
Dad whistled to us to come home for dinner.
whistle at somebody (=whistle to let someone know that you think they are attractive)
Men are always whistling at Heidi on the street.
2. USE A WHISTLE [intransitive] to make a high sound by blowing into a whistle:
The referee whistled and the game began.
3. GO/MOVE FAST [intransitive 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 [intransitive] if a steam train or kettle whistles, it makes a high sound when air or steam is forced through a small hole
5. BIRD [intransitive] if a bird whistles, it makes a high musical sound
6. be whistling in the dark 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. somebody can whistle for something British English spoken used to tell someone that there is no chance of them getting what they have asked for
whistle2 noun [countable]
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 something at blow1(17), ⇨ clean as a whistle at clean1(1), ⇨ penny whistle, wolf whistle
| I |
verb1. HIGH SOUND [intransitive and transitive] to make a high or musical sound by blowing air out through your lips:
whistle to somebody (=whistle to get someone’s attention)
whistle at somebody (=whistle to let someone know that you think they are attractive)
2. USE A WHISTLE [intransitive] to make a high sound by blowing into a whistle:
3. GO/MOVE FAST [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move quickly, making a whistling sound:
4. STEAM TRAIN/KETTLE [intransitive] if a steam train or kettle whistles, it makes a high sound when air or steam is forced through a small hole
5. BIRD [intransitive] if a bird whistles, it makes a high musical sound
6. be whistling in the dark informal to be trying to show that you are brave when you are afraid, or that you know about something when you do not:
7. somebody can whistle for something British English spoken used to tell someone that there is no chance of them getting what they have asked for
| II |
noun [countable] Language: Old English
Origin: hwistle
Origin: hwistle
1. a small object that produces a high whistling sound when you blow into it:
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:
low/shrill/high-pitched etc whistle
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
⇨ blow the whistle on something at blow1(17), ⇨ clean as a whistle at clean1(1), ⇨ penny whistle, wolf whistle
complain to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about sb/sth 指抱怨、埋怨、投诉、发牢骚 ：◆ I'm going to complain to the manager about this. 我要就这件事向经理投诉。 protest to say or do sth to show that you disagree with or disapprove of sth, especially publicly; to give sth as a reason for protesting 指公开反对、抗议或申辩 ：◆ Students took to the streets to protest against the decision.学生走上街头抗议这项决定。 object to say that you disagree with or disapprove of sth; to give sth as a reason for objecting 指不同意、不赞成、反对或抗辩 ：◆ If nobody objects, we'll postpone the meeting till next week. 如果没有人反对，我们就把会议推迟到下周。 ◆ He objected that the police had arrested him without sufficient evidence. 他抗辩说警察没有充分证据就逮捕了他。 grumble ( to complain about sb/sth in a bad-tempered wayrather
指咕哝、嘟囔、发牢骚 ：◆ They kept grumbling that they were cold. 他们不停地嘟囔着说冷。 moan ( to complain about sb/sth in an annoying wayBrE rather
指抱怨、埋怨 ：◆ What are you moaning on about now? 你在抱怨什么呢？ whine ( to complain in an annoying, crying voicerather
指哭哭啼啼或哭嚷着诉说 ：◆ Stop whining! 别哭哭啼啼的！ ◆ 'I want to go home,' whined Toby. “我要回家。” 托比哼哼唧唧地说。 NOTE Whine is often used to talk about the way that young children complain.* whine 通常用于小孩子抱怨。
Patterns
to complain/protest/grumble/moan/whine about sthto complain/protest/grumble/moan at sthto complain/protest/object/grumble/moan/whine to sbto complain/protest/object/grumble/moan/whine that…