# whistle past the graveyard

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/whistle-past-the-graveyard
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To attempt to stay cheerful in a dire situation; to proceed with a task, ignoring an upcoming hazard, hoping for a good outcome.

## Examples

- He whistles past the graveyard, ignoring the fact that his company is failing.
- The manager knows the project is doomed, but he whistles past the graveyard and continues to assign new tasks to the team.
- Despite the mounting evidence of an impending economic collapse, the investors continued to whistle past the graveyard, convinced that their portfolios remained entirely insulated from the coming storm.

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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.