Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

whistle for

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.88 in modern English

Syllables: whistle -for
IPA

19

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To request or ask for with no chance of success.

verb

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see whistle, for.

Example Sentences

"If we wanted something we could whistle for it - but if the Australians wanted something you'd got to get it for them, or else."
"She could whistle for it now; she wouldn't get a penny from him even if she crawled on all fours."
"And if it was milk I was after from that environment I could clearly whistle for it."
"And as for ceilings, you can whistle for them. I have lived in this house for six years and it hasn't hurt me."

Inflected Forms

whistles for (present, singular) whistling for (participle, present) whistled for (participle, past) whistled for (past)

Questions

What does whistle for mean?: To request or ask for with no chance of success.

How to pronounce whistle for

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “whistle for”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “whistle for” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.