whistling
whistling — noun
1. the high musical sound that someone makes with their lips, or that a kettle, bir
the high musical sound that someone makes with their lips, or that a kettle, bird, or fast-moving object produces
The whistling from the next room kept Sofia awake until past midnight.
uncountable noun as subject of a sentence
Quinn heard a soft whistling as the wind moved through the broken window.
whistling of wind / a moving object
The whistling of the old kettle told Grandma the water was ready.
Early in the morning, the whistling of the birds filled the quiet garden.
There was loud whistling from the crowd when the band walked onto the stage.
用法筆記
Usually uncountable; refers to the sound itself, not the device you blow (that is a 'whistle'). Often followed by 'of' to name the source: the whistling of the wind, of a kettle, of birds.
常見錯誤
whistling — verb
- whistlingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- whistlings3rd person singular
- whistlinging-ing form
- whistlingedpast simple
1. to push air out through a narrow gap, usually your lips or a small device at you
to push air out through a narrow gap, usually your lips or a small device at your mouth, so that a clear high note comes out
Mert was whistling happily as he painted the garden fence on Sunday.
whistle + adverb (happily)
Please stop whistling while I am trying to read the map.
stop + whistling (-ing form)
Ishaan whistled loudly to call his dog back across the field.
The old farmer whistled a soft tune as he walked home at dusk.
Amelia tried to whistle, but only a thin puff of air came out.
- pipe
make a high sound, often softer and more musical
用法筆記
Most common sense; usually intransitive but can take a tune as an object (whistle a song). Distinguish from sense 2, where the subject is a moving object rather than a person.
常見錯誤
2. if an object travels fast past or through a place, it gives off a drawn-out, hig
if an object travels fast past or through a place, it gives off a drawn-out, high noise as it goes
The arrow whistled past Defne's ear and stuck in the wooden post.
whistle past [someone/something]
A cold wind whistled through the gap under the front door all night.
whistle through [a place]
The train whistled past the small station without slowing down at all.
Bullets whistled overhead as the soldiers crawled toward the riverbank.
The hockey puck whistled across the ice and slammed into the goal net.
- rush
move fast, but does not imply the high sound
用法筆記
Subject is usually a fast-moving object (wind, arrow, train, bullet), not a person. Almost always followed by a preposition such as 'past', 'through', or 'over'.
3. to sing in clear, high notes, as a bird does
to sing in clear, high notes, as a bird does
Two small birds whistled from the apple tree as Mayumi opened the window.
subject is a bird
Every spring morning, the blackbirds whistle loudly outside the kitchen window.
whistle + adverb of manner
A bright yellow bird whistled sweetly on the fence beside the old barn.
The robins whistled to each other across the wet, foggy field at dawn.
Sofia stopped to listen to a tiny bird whistling high up in the pine.
用法筆記
Only used with birds as the subject; for people, use sense 1. Often paired with an adverb describing the song (sweetly, loudly, softly).
4. in a team game, to blow a small device that makes a sharp sound, telling players
in a team game, to blow a small device that makes a sharp sound, telling players to begin, halt, or that a rule was broken
The referee whistled, and both teams stopped running to look at her.
referee as subject, intransitive
When Christopher pushed the other boy, the referee whistled at once.
whistle in response to a foul
The referee whistled twice to show that the first half was over.
As soon as the ball crossed the line, the referee whistled sharply.
- blow the whistle
fuller phrase for the same action by a referee
用法筆記
Subject is a referee or umpire; the sense covers blowing a whistle to control play. Distinguish from sense 5, which takes a player as a direct object.
5. in a team game, to blow a small device against a named player to mark that they
in a team game, to blow a small device against a named player to mark that they have broken a rule
The referee whistled the defender for holding Ife's shirt near the goal.
whistle + player (transitive)
The umpire whistled Jiwoo twice for stepping over the service line.
whistle someone for [a foul]
Late in the match, the referee whistled the striker for a clear handball.
The referee whistled Sivan for a late tackle just outside the box.
- penalise
punish for breaking a rule, broader than the whistle action
文法句型
whistle + player
用法筆記
Takes a player as a direct object, usually followed by 'for' plus the offence. Rare and informal in sports commentary; distinguish from sense 4, which is intransitive.