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wet one's whistle

whis·tle
W w

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [hwis-uh l, wis-]
    • /wɛt wʌnz ˈʰwɪs əl, ˈwɪs-/
    • /wet wʌnz ˈwɪsl/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [hwis-uh l, wis-]
    • /wɛt wʌnz ˈʰwɪs əl, ˈwɪs-/

Definitions of wet one's whistle words

  • verb without object wet one's whistle to make a clear musical sound, a series of such sounds, or a high-pitched, warbling sound by the forcible expulsion of the breath through a small opening formed by contracting the lips, or through the teeth, with the aid of the tongue. 1
  • verb without object wet one's whistle to make such a sound or series of sounds otherwise, as by blowing on some device. 1
  • verb without object wet one's whistle to emit similar sounds from the mouth, as birds do. 1
  • verb without object wet one's whistle (of a device) to produce a similar sound when actuated by steam or the like: This teakettle whistles when it boils. 1
  • verb without object wet one's whistle to move, go, pass, etc., with a whistling or whizzing sound, as a bullet or the wind. 1
  • verb with object wet one's whistle to produce by whistling: to whistle a tune. 1
See all 18 definitions of wet one's whistle

Information block about the term

Origin of wet one's whistle

First appearance:

before 950
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 950; (v.) Middle English whistlen, Old English hwistlian; akin to Old Norse hvīsla to whistle, hviskra to whisper; see whine; (noun) Middle English; Old English hwistle instrument, akin to the v.

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Wet one's whistle

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Wet one's whistle

wet one's whistle popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 94% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

Synonyms for wet one's whistle

verb wet one's whistle

  • boozing — any alcoholic beverage; whiskey.
  • downed — from higher to lower; in descending direction or order; toward, into, or in a lower position: to come down the ladder.
  • downing — a downward movement; descent.
  • downs — from higher to lower; in descending direction or order; toward, into, or in a lower position: to come down the ladder.
  • liquor up — a distilled or spirituous beverage, as brandy or whiskey, as distinguished from a fermented beverage, as wine or beer.
All 6 Synonyms of wet one's whistle

See also

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