ENGLISH
REFERENCE

whistle for

idiom
Meaning

To request or ask for with no chance of success.


Examples
SIMPLE

If you want a refund now, you can whistle for it.

CONTEXTUAL

He expected the company to pay for his mistake, but they told him he could whistle for it.

COMPLEX

The debtor hoped the bank would forgive his massive loan, but the manager coldly informed him he could whistle for any such relief.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bells and whistles

    Extra features added for show rather than function; fancy additions or features.

  2. 02

    blow the whistle

    To disclose information to the public or to appropriate authorities concerning the illegal or socially harmful actions of a person or group, especially a corporation or government agency.

  3. 03

    clean as a whistle

    Very clean.

  4. 04

    make pigs and whistles of

    To ruin (something); to make a severe mess of (something).

  5. 05

    not worth a whistle

    Worthless or pointless.

  6. 06

    wet one's whistle

    To have a drink; to quench one's thirst.

  7. 07

    whistle Dixie

    To engage in idle conversational fantasies.

  8. 08

    whistle in the dark

    To speak of something despite having little knowledge of it.

Last updated April 17, 2026