-
1 whistle in the dark
whistle in the dark а) ободрять, подбадривать; б) напускать на себя спо-койствие, маскировать волнение, страх и т. п. -
2 whistle in the dark
-
3 whistle in the dark
подбадривать себя, храбритьсяOr maybe Jason was whistling in the dark, Gavin said, saying No in terror to terrified realisation, already too late. (W. Faulkner, ‘The Mansion’, ch. XV) — - Но может быть, Джейсон просто себя подбадривает, - заметил Гэвин, - сказав "пас", когда уже было поздно; он ведь так боялся этого страшного открытия.
Tommy, I cannot marry you. You can't really have believed I would. Your letter sounds like someone whistling in the dark. (I. Murdoch, ‘A Word Child’, ‘Tuesday’) — Томми, я не могу стать твоей женой. Неужели ты надеялся на мое согласие? Твое письмо звучит как письмо человека, уговаривающего себя не терять надежды.
-
4 whistle in the dark
пoдбaдpивaть ceбя, xpaбpитьcяTommy, I cannot marry you. You can't really have believed I would. Your letter sounds like someone whistling in the dark (I. Murdoch). Or maybe Jason was whistling in the dark, Gavin said, saying No in terror to terrified realisation, already too late (W. Faulkner) -
5 whistle in the dark
expr AmE infmlShe's just whistling in the dark. She has no idea of what's going on — Она просто строит предположения, а на самом деле ничего не знает
The new dictionary of modern spoken language > whistle in the dark
-
6 whistle in the dark
Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > whistle in the dark
-
7 whistle in the dark
1) Общая лексика: маскировать волнение, напускать на себя спокойствие, ободрять, подбадривать, скрывать страх2) Сленг: гадать, делать догадки3) Макаров: бодриться, маскировать страх, маскировать уныние, подбадривать себя свистом в темноте, проявлять показной оптимизм, храбриться4) Табуированная лексика: заниматься кунилингусом -
8 whistle on the dark
Разговорное выражение: напускное спокойствие, показной оптимизм -
9 whistle in the dark
ободрять, подбадриватьнапускать на себя спокойствие, маскировать волнение, страхАнгло-русский большой универсальный переводческий словарь > whistle in the dark
-
10 whistle in the dark
маскировать волнение или страх, напускать на себя спокойствие, ободрять, подбадривать -
11 whistle in the dark
['hwisël in dhë da:k] i jap zemër vetes -
12 to whistle in the dark
разг. бодриться, демонстрировать (напускное) спокойствие, маскировать волнение, страх и т. п. -
13 whistle
whistle ['wɪsəl]∎ he walked in whistling happily il est entré en sifflant joyeusement;∎ to whistle to sb siffler qn;∎ I whistled to my dog j'ai sifflé mon chien;∎ the porter whistled for a taxi le portier a sifflé un taxi;∎ he whistles at all the girls il siffle toutes les filles;∎ the audience booed and whistled le public a hué et sifflé;∎ British let him whistle for his lunch! il peut toujours l'attendre, son repas!;∎ figurative to whistle in the dark essayer de se donner du courage(b) (bird, kettle, train) siffler;∎ bullets whistled past him des balles passaient près de lui en sifflant;∎ the wind whistled through the trees le vent gémissait dans les arbres(tune) siffler, siffloter;∎ the coach whistled them off the field l'entraîneur a sifflé pour qu'ils quittent le terrain;∎ the players were whistled off the field by the crowd les joueurs ont quitté le terrain sous les sifflements de la foule3 noun∎ the cheers and whistles of the crowd les acclamations et les sifflements de la foule;∎ if you need me, just give a whistle tu n'as qu'à siffler si tu as besoin de moi(b) (of bird, kettle, train) sifflement m(c) (instrument → of person, on train) sifflet m;∎ to blow a whistle donner un coup de sifflet;∎ the whistle blew for the end of the shift le sifflet a signalé la fin du service;∎ the referee blew his whistle for half-time l'arbitre a sifflé la mi-temps;∎ to be as clean as a whistle briller comme un sou neuf;∎ figurative it's got all the bells and whistles il a tous les accessoires possibles et imaginables∎ (penny or tin) whistle flûtiau m, pipeau m(a) (by whistling) siffler;∎ I'll whistle up a cab je vais siffler un taxi∎ I managed to whistle up a van for the move j'ai réussi à dégoter un camion pour le déménagement;∎ I can't whistle up a sofa just like that! je ne peux pas faire apparaître un canapé comme par enchantement! -
14 whistle
whistle, US [transcription]["hwI-"]A n1 ( small pipe) sifflet m ; ( siren) sirène f ; the factory whistle goes at 5 pm la sirène de l'usine sonne à 17 h ; to blow the ou one's whistle donner un coup de sifflet ; to blow the whistle for half time siffler la mi-temps ;2 ( sound) (made by mouth, kettle, train, wind) sifflement m ; ( made with a small pipe) coup m de sifflet ; to give a whistle of surprise pousser un sifflement de surprise ;3 Mus flageolet m.C vi1 ( make noise) [bird, person, kettle, train, wind] siffler ; to whistle at sb/sth siffler qn/qch ; to whistle for siffler [dog] ; he whistled to us to come il nous a sifflés pour nous faire venir ;2 ( move fast) to whistle past ou by [arrow, bullet] passer en sifflant ; [train] passer à toute vitesse ; the arrows whistled past our heads/through the air les flèches sifflaient au-dessus de nos têtes/dans l'air.to blow the whistle on sb dénoncer qn ; to blow the whistle on sth révéler qch ; (as) clean as a whistle propre comme un sou neuf ; you can whistle for it ○ ! tu peux toujours courir ○ ! ; to wet one's whistle ○ se rincer le gosier ○ ; to whistle in the dark essayer de se donner du courage.■ whistle up ○:▶ whistle up [sth] dégoter ○ [object, volunteer]. -
15 whistle
whistle [ˈwɪsl]1. nouna. ( = sound) (made with mouth) sifflement m ; ( = jeering) sifflet m ; (made with a whistle) coup m de sifflet[person, bird, wind] siffler ; (tunefully, light-heartedly) siffloter[+ tune] siffler ; (casually, light-heartedly) siffloter* * *['wɪsl], US ['hwɪ-] 1.1) ( small pipe) sifflet m; ( siren) sirène fto blow the ou one's whistle — donner un coup de sifflet
2) ( sound) gen sifflement m; ( with small pipe) coup m de sifflet2.transitive verb gen siffler; ( casually) siffloter [melody]3.1) ( make noise) sifflerto whistle at somebody/something — siffler quelqu'un/quelque chose
to whistle for — siffler [dog]
2) ( move fast)to whistle past ou by — [bullet] passer en sifflant; [train] passer à toute vitesse
•Phrasal Verbs:••you can whistle for it! — (colloq) tu peux toujours courir! (colloq)
-
16 whistle
whistle [ˊwɪsl]1. n1) свист2) свисто́к;penny ( или tin) whistle свисту́лька
3) сл. го́рло, горта́нь; гло́тка◊to pay for one's whistle до́рого плати́ть за свою́ при́хоть
;to blow the whistle on разг.
а) пресе́чь чьи-л. де́йствия;б) донести́, «нака́пать»;as clear ( или clean, dry) as a whistle ≅ как стёклышко
2. v1) свисте́ть; дава́ть свисто́к ( как сигнал)2) насви́стывать ( мотив и т.п.)3) проноси́ться со сви́стом;a bullet whistled past him ми́мо него́ просвисте́ла пу́ля
whistle away насви́стывать;whistle up вызыва́ть, подзыва́ть◊to whistle for smth. тще́тно иска́ть или жела́ть чего́-л.
;to let smb. go whistle не счита́ться с чьи́ми-л. жела́ниями
;to whistle for a wind выжида́ть удо́бного слу́чая
;а) ободря́ть, подба́дривать;б) напуска́ть на себя́ споко́йствие, маскирова́ть волне́ние, страх и т.п. -
17 whistle
1. intransitive verbthe spectators whistled at the referee — die Zuschauer pfiffen den Schiedsrichter aus
whistle in the dark — (fig.) seine Angst verdrängen
2. transitive verbyou can whistle for it! — (fig. coll.) da kannst du lange warten!
1) pfeifen2) (summon) her[bei]pfeifen3. nounhe whistled his dog and it came running — er pfiff seinem Hund, und er kam angelaufen
2) (instrument) Pfeife, diepenny or tin whistle — Blechflöte, die
[as] clean/clear as a whistle — (fig.) blitzsauber/absolut frei
blow the whistle on somebody/something — (fig.) jemanden/etwas auffliegen lassen (ugs.)
* * *['wisl] 1. verb1) (to make a shrill, often musical, sound by forcing one's breath between the lips or teeth: Can you whistle?; He whistled to attract my attention; He whistled a happy tune.) pfeifen2) (to make such a sound with a device designed for this: The electric kettle's whistling; The referee whistled for half-time.) pfeifen3) (to make a shrill sound in passing through the air: The bullet whistled past his head.) pfeifen2. noun1) (the sound made by whistling: He gave a loud whistle to his friend across the road.) der Pfiff2) (a musical pipe designed to make a whistling noise.) die Pfeife3) (an instrument used by policemen, referees etc to make a whistling noise: The referee blew his whistle at the end of the game.) die Pfeife* * *whis·tle[ˈ(h)wɪsl̩]I. vi1. (of person) pfeifento \whistle in admiration/surprise vor Bewunderung/Überraschung pfeifen▪ to \whistle at sb hinter jdm herpfeifen▪ to \whistle to sb [nach] jdm pfeifen2. (of air movement) wind, kettle pfeifen3. (move past) vorbeipfeifena bullet \whistled past my head eine Kugel pfiff an meinem Kopf vorbei5.II. vt▪ to \whistle sth etw pfeifento \whistle a tune eine Melodie pfeifenIII. nreferee's \whistle Trillerpfeife fto blow one's \whistle pfeifen3.▶ to blow the \whistle on sth etw aufdecken* * *['wɪsl]1. nthe whistle of the escaping steam — das Pfeifen des ausströmenden Dampfes
2) (= instrument) Pfeife fto blow a/one's whistle — pfeifen
to blow the whistle on sb/sth (fig inf) — über jdn/etw auspacken (inf)
See:→ academic.ru/81817/wet">wet2. vtpfeifento whistle (to) sb to stop — jdn durch einen Pfiff stoppen
to whistle sb back/over etc — jdn zurück-/herüberpfeifen etc
3. vipfeifenthe crowd whistled at the referee — die Menge pfiff den Schiedsrichter aus
he whistled for a taxi — er pfiff ein Taxi heran, er pfiff nach einem Taxi
the referee whistled for a foul —
the referee whistled for play to stop (at the end) — der Schiedsrichter pfiff eine Spielunterbrechung der Schiedsrichter pfiff das Spiel ab
he can whistle for it (inf) — da kann er lange warten, da kann er warten, bis er schwarz wird (inf)
* * *whistle [ˈwısl; ˈhwısl]A v/i1. pfeifen (Person, Vogel, Lokomotive etc):whistle at sb jemandem nachpfeifen;whistle away vor sich hin pfeifen;whistle for a taxi (to one’s dog) (nach) einem Taxi (seinem Hund) pfeifen;the referee whistled for offside SPORT der Schiedsrichter pfiff Abseits;he may whistle for it umg darauf kann er lange warten, das kann er in den Kamin schreiben;whistle in the dark fig den Mutigen markieren2. pfeifen, sausen (Kugel, Wind etc):a bullet whistled past eine Kugel pfiff vorbeiB v/t1. einen Ton, eine Melodie pfeifen:the referee whistled the end of the game der Schiedsrichter pfiff ab2. (nach) jemandem, einem Hund etc pfeifen:whistle back zurückpfeifen (a. fig jemanden);whistle up einen Hund etc herpfeifenC s1. Pfeife f:blow one’s whistle pfeifen;blow the whistle umg die Sache auffliegen lassen;a) jemanden, etwas auffliegen lassen,b) jemanden, etwas stoppengive a whistle einen Pfiff ausstoßen, pfeifen;3. Pfeifton m, Pfeifsignal n4. Pfeifen n (des Windes etc)* * *1. intransitive verbwhistle in the dark — (fig.) seine Angst verdrängen
2. transitive verbyou can whistle for it! — (fig. coll.) da kannst du lange warten!
1) pfeifen2) (summon) her[bei]pfeifen3. nounhe whistled his dog and it came running — er pfiff seinem Hund, und er kam angelaufen
2) (instrument) Pfeife, diepenny or tin whistle — Blechflöte, die
[as] clean/clear as a whistle — (fig.) blitzsauber/absolut frei
blow the whistle on somebody/something — (fig.) jemanden/etwas auffliegen lassen (ugs.)
* * *v.pfeifen v.(§ p.,pp.: pfiff, gepfiffen) n.Pfeife -n f.Pfiff -e m. -
18 whistle
ˈwɪsl
1. сущ.
1) свист Syn: singing, piping
2) свисток to blow (on) a whistle ≈ свистеть в свисток to give a whistle ≈ дать свисток shrill whistle ≈ пронзительный свисток factory whistle ≈ заводской гудок penny whistle, tin whistle, bird whistle ≈ свистулька police whistle ≈ полицейский свисток referee's whistle ≈ свисток судьи
3) разг. горло, гортань;
глотка ∙
2. гл.
1) а) свистеть б) давать свисток (как сигнал) в) подзывать свистком г) свистеть в знак одобрения
2) насвистывать (мотив и т. п.) She whistled a song to me. ≈ Она напела мне мотив песенки.
3) проноситься со свистом ∙ whistle away whistle up whistle for let go whistle whistle for a wind whistle in the dark свист - to give a * свистнуть, дать свисток свисток - penny /tin/ свистулька - boatswain's * боцманская дудка - a factory * фабричный /заводской/ гудок (разговорное) горло, глотка - to wet one's * промочить горло, выпить > * bait (американизм) (сленг) красотка > as clean /as clear, as dry/ as a * отличный, первоклассный;
без сучка без задоринки > at smb.'s * по первому зову /приказанию/;
стоит только свистнуть > not worth a * ничего не стоит, не стоит усилий > to pay (too dear) for one's * расплачиваться /дорого поплатиться/ за свою прихоть свистеть - to * a tune насвистывать мотив - the steam-engine *d паровоз дал свисток - the wind *d up the chimney ветер завывал в трубе - he *d the switch through the air он со свистом рассекал веткой воздух свистнуть, подозвать свистком (тж. * up) - to * a dog, to * one's dog back свистнуть собаке - to * for a taxi свистком подозвать такси проноситься со свистом - the bullets *d past our ears пули свистели вокруг нас свистеть в знак одобрения - to * appreciation присвистнуть от восторга - to * at a girl (разговорное) присвистнуть (от восторга), увидев девушку - the audience *d зрители свистом выражали свое одобрение( for) (американизм) (разговорное) тщетно добиваться( чего-л.) - he did a sloppy job so he can * for his money работа сделана халтурно, и пусть он не рассчитывает получить за нее деньги > to * for a wind ждать у моря погоды > to * in the dark подбадривать себя свистом в темноте, храбриться;
бодриться, маскировать страх /уныние/;
проявлять показной оптимизм > to go * получить отказ > to bid /to tell, to let/ smb. go * грубо отказать кому-л.;
дать кому-л. от ворот поворот > to * up the law обращаться в суд > let the law go * (Shakespeare) закон тут бессилен > to blow the * on smb. (сленг) донести на кого-л.;
накапать, настучать на кого-л. ~ проноситься со свистом;
a bullet whistled past him мимо него просвистела пуля;
whistle away насвистывать to let (smb.) go ~ не считаться( с чьими-л.) желаниями;
to whistle for a wind выжидать удобного случая whistle разг. горло, гортань;
глотка;
to pay for one's whistle дорого платить за свою прихоть ~ свисток;
penny( или tin) whistle свистулька whistle разг. горло, гортань;
глотка;
to pay for one's whistle дорого платить за свою прихоть ~ насвистывать (мотив и т. п.) ~ проноситься со свистом;
a bullet whistled past him мимо него просвистела пуля;
whistle away насвистывать ~ свист ~ свистеть;
давать свисток (как сигнал) ~ свисток;
penny (или tin) whistle свистулька ~ up вызывать, подзывать;
to whistle (for smth.) тщетно искать или желать( чего-л.) ~ проноситься со свистом;
a bullet whistled past him мимо него просвистела пуля;
whistle away насвистывать to let (smb.) go ~ не считаться (с чьими-л.) желаниями;
to whistle for a wind выжидать удобного случая to ~ in the dark напускать на себя спокойствие, маскировать волнение, страх to ~ in the dark ободрять, подбадривать ~ up вызывать, подзывать;
to whistle (for smth.) тщетно искать или желать (чего-л.) -
19 whistle
I ['wɪsl] [AE 'hwɪ-]1) (small pipe) fischietto m.; mus. zufolo m.; (siren) sirena f.to blow the o one's whistle — fischiare, dare un colpo di fischietto
2) (sound) fischio m.••to blow the whistle on sb., sth. — denunciare qcn., qcs.
II 1. ['wɪsl] [AE 'hwɪ-] 2.to wet one's whistle — colloq. bagnarsi la bocca o il becco
1) (make noise) fischiare (at a)to whistle for — fischiare a [ dog]
2) (move fast)to whistle past o by — [arrow, bullet] passare sibilando; [ train] passare fischiando
•••you can whistle for it! — colloq. ti attacchi al tram (e fischi in curva)!
to whistle in the dark — = cercare di farsi coraggio
* * *['wisl] 1. verb1) (to make a shrill, often musical, sound by forcing one's breath between the lips or teeth: Can you whistle?; He whistled to attract my attention; He whistled a happy tune.) fischiare2) (to make such a sound with a device designed for this: The electric kettle's whistling; The referee whistled for half-time.) fischiare3) (to make a shrill sound in passing through the air: The bullet whistled past his head.) fischiare4) ((of the wind) to blow with a shrill sound.) fischiare2. noun1) (the sound made by whistling: He gave a loud whistle to his friend across the road.) fischio2) (a musical pipe designed to make a whistling noise.) zufolo3) (an instrument used by policemen, referees etc to make a whistling noise: The referee blew his whistle at the end of the game.) fischietto* * *whistle /ˈwɪsl/n.1 fischio; sibilo: the whistle of the train, il fischio del treno; to blow a (o the) whistle, dare un colpo di fischietto2 fischietto; fischio; zufolo● (fam.) whistle-blower, chi rivela pubblicamente illeciti o attività illegali (spec. di una società, un'organizzazione, ecc.); ( sport) arbitro che fischia molto □ (fam., in GB) whistle-blowers' charter, legge ( il Public Interest Disclosure Act del 1998) che protegge chi denuncia gravi illeciti commessi dal datore di lavoro □ (fam.) whistle-blowing, il rivelare illeciti o attività illegali (spec. di una società, un'organizzazione, ecc.); pubblica denuncia □ (naut.) whistle buoy, boa a fischio □ ( nuoto) whistle start, partenza data con il fischietto □ ( USA) whistle stop, (ferr.) stazioncina; cittadina ( di poca importanza); (polit.) breve visita ( di un candidato) □ (fam. USA) whistle-stop (agg.), breve, di poche ore: (spec. polit.) a whistle-stop tour, un giro con visite di poche ore □ (fam. USA) to blow the whistle on sb., denunciare pubblicamente q.; fare una soffiata su q.; scoprire gli altarini su q. □ ( sport: dell'arbitro) to blow the whistle on the game, dare il fischio di chiusura □ (fam.) to wet one's whistle, bagnarsi il becco; fare una bevutina.(to) whistle /ˈwɪsl/v. i. e t.1 fischiare ( per chiamare, per dileggio, ecc.); fischiettare; zufolare: The boy was whistling a tune, il ragazzo fischiettava un motivetto; I whistled to my dog, ho fischiato (o ho fatto un fischio) al cane; The steam engine whistled before entering the tunnel, la locomotiva a vapore fischiò prima di entrare nella galleria; The bullet whistled over my head, la pallottola mi fischiò sopra la testa2 ( sport) usare il fischietto; fischiare: The referee whistled and the game began, l'arbitro ha fischiato e la partita ha avuto inizio; to whistle the end of the game, fischiare la fine dell'incontro● to whistle appreciation, esprimere la propria ammirazione con un fischio □ to whistle sb. back, richiamare q. con un fischio □ (fig.) to whistle down the wind, darsi per vinto; lasciar perdere; rinunciare; abbandonare la partita □ to whistle in the dark, fischiettare al buio ( per farsi coraggio); (fig.) far finta di non aver paura, mostrare sicurezza.* * *I ['wɪsl] [AE 'hwɪ-]1) (small pipe) fischietto m.; mus. zufolo m.; (siren) sirena f.to blow the o one's whistle — fischiare, dare un colpo di fischietto
2) (sound) fischio m.••to blow the whistle on sb., sth. — denunciare qcn., qcs.
II 1. ['wɪsl] [AE 'hwɪ-] 2.to wet one's whistle — colloq. bagnarsi la bocca o il becco
1) (make noise) fischiare (at a)to whistle for — fischiare a [ dog]
2) (move fast)to whistle past o by — [arrow, bullet] passare sibilando; [ train] passare fischiando
•••you can whistle for it! — colloq. ti attacchi al tram (e fischi in curva)!
to whistle in the dark — = cercare di farsi coraggio
-
20 whistle
{'wisl}
I. 1. свирене, свирване, свиркане, подсвиркване (и на птичка), изсвиркване
2. свирка
penny/tin WHISTLE малка калаена свирка, пищялка, цафара
steam WHISTLE свирка на парна машина
3. sl. гърло
to wet one's WHISTLE утолявам жаждата си, пия
II. 1. свиря, подсвирвам, изсвирвам, свиркам, подсвирквам
to WHISTLE a dog back подсвирвам на куче да се върне/дойде
2. свиря, свистя, пищя (за куршум и пр.)
3. sl. доноснича
to let someone go WHISTLE не вземам под внимание желанието на някого
you may WHISTLE for it ще ти се, много ти се иска
to WHISTLE for something напразно се надявам на/търся/искам нещо
to WHISTLE in the dark прен. преодолявам страха си
to WHISTLE up извиквам някого с подсвиркване* * *{'wisl} n 1.свирене,свирване, свиркане, подсвиркване (и на пт(2) {'wisl} v 1. свиря, подсвирвам, изсвирвам; свиркам, подсв* * *свистя; свиркам; свирка; доноснича;* * *1. i. свирене, свирване, свиркане, подсвиркване (и на птичка), изсвиркване 2. ii. свиря, подсвирвам, изсвирвам, свиркам, подсвирквам 3. penny/tin whistle малка калаена свирка, пищялка, цафара 4. sl. гърло 5. sl. доноснича 6. steam whistle свирка на парна машина 7. to let someone go whistle не вземам под внимание желанието на някого 8. to wet one's whistle утолявам жаждата си, пия 9. to whistle a dog back подсвирвам на куче да се върне/дойде 10. to whistle for something напразно се надявам на/търся/искам нещо 11. to whistle in the dark прен. преодолявам страха си 12. to whistle up извиквам някого с подсвиркване 13. you may whistle for it ще ти се, много ти се иска 14. свирка 15. свиря, свистя, пищя (за куршум и пр.)* * *whistle [wisl] I. n 1. свирене, свиркане; подсвиркване; изсвиркване; to pay for o.'s \whistle плащам скъпо за прищявка (каприз); 2. свирка; penny ( tin) \whistle малка тенекиена свирка; пищялка, цафара; steam \whistle свирка на парна машина; • as clean as a \whistle съвсем чист, чист като нов; невинен; to blow the \whistle on разобличавам, разкривам; 3. sl гърло; to wet o.'s \whistle намокрям си гърлото, пия; II. v 1. свиря (с уста), свирвам, свиркам, подсвирквам, изсвирвам; to \whistle a dog back (up) свирвам на куче да се върне; 2. свиря, пищя (за куршум); 3. sl доноснича; • you may \whistle for it ще ти се! to \whistle down the wind оставям, зарязвам, пускам; to \whistle in the dark правя се, че не ме е страх, давам си кураж; to \whistle in the wind ритам срещу ръжена; правя безполезни опити да спра (променя) нещата.
См. также в других словарях:
whistle in the dark — {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to stay brave and forget your fear. * /Tom said he could fight the bully with one hand, but we knew that he was just whistling in the dark./ (From the fact that people sometimes whistle when walking in a dark, scary… … Dictionary of American idioms
whistle in the dark — {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to stay brave and forget your fear. * /Tom said he could fight the bully with one hand, but we knew that he was just whistling in the dark./ (From the fact that people sometimes whistle when walking in a dark, scary… … Dictionary of American idioms
whistle in the dark — ► whistle in the dark pretend to be unafraid. Main Entry: ↑whistle … English terms dictionary
whistle in the dark — phrasal : to keep up one s courage by or as if by whistling a series of optimistic statements and much whistling in the dark Rupert Emerson * * * whistle in the dark To do something to quell one s fear • • • Main Entry: ↑whistle * * * pretend to… … Useful english dictionary
whistle in the dark — If you whistle in the dark, you try to hide your fear in a scary or dangerous situation. Bob looks confident but he s just whistling in the dark; he knows he s going to lose his job … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
whistle in the dark — try to stay brave and forget one s fear Although he felt very frightened he began to whistle in the dark which helped to calm him down … Idioms and examples
whistle\ in\ the\ dark — v. phr. informal To try to stay brave and forget your fear. Tom said he could fight the bully with one hand, but we knew that he was just whistling in the dark. (From the fact that people sometimes whistle when walking in a dark, scary place to… … Словарь американских идиом
whistle in the dark — in. to guess aimlessly; to speculate as to a fact. □ Am I close, or am I just whistling in the dark? □ She was whistling in the dark. She has no idea of what’s going on … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
whistle in the dark — verb a) To make a show of bravery despite ones fears. b) To speak of something despite having little knowledge of it. Syn: whistle past the graveyard, talk through ones hat … Wiktionary
whistle in the dark — pretend to be unafraid. → whistle … English new terms dictionary
whistle in the dark — idi to try to remain brave in the face of danger or adversity … From formal English to slang