# whistle in the wind

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/whistle-in-the-wind
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To attempt something that is futile; to say something that is not heeded.

## Examples

- Asking him to change his mind is just whistling in the wind.
- The activists knew their protest was whistling in the wind, but they continued to speak out anyway.
- The politician's desperate plea for unity was merely whistling in the wind, as the divided assembly refused to listen to his arguments.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.