whistle Dixie

whistle Dixie

slang To have an unrealistic, usually overly optimistic, view of something. "Dixie" was a song popular among Confederate soldiers during the US Civil War and became associated with continuing to hope for the success of a lost cause. Primarily heard in US. You're whistling Dixie if you think we're making the playoffs this year.
See also: Dixie, whistle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

whistle Dixie

Engage in unrealistic, hopeful fantasizing, as in If you think you can drive there in two hours, you're whistling Dixie. This idiom alludes to the song "Dixie" and the vain hope that the Confederacy, known as Dixie, would win the Civil War.
See also: Dixie, whistle
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

whistle Dixie

engage in unrealistic fantasies; waste your time. US
Dixie is an informal name for the Southern states of the USA. The marching song ‘Dixie’ ( 1859 ) was popular with Confederate soldiers in the American Civil War.
2001 New York Times These guys are just whistling Dixie…They're ignoring the basic issues that everyone's been pointing out to them for a decade.
See also: Dixie, whistle
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

whistle Dixie

Slang
To engage in unrealistically rosy fantasizing: "If you think mass transportation is going to replace the automobile I think you're whistling Dixie" (Henry Ford II).
See also: Dixie, whistle
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • be whistling Dixie
  • Dixie
  • be not whistling Dixie
  • not be whistling Dixie
  • not just whistling Dixie
  • not (just) whistling Dixie
  • whistlin
  • you ain't (just) whistling Dixie
  • You ain't just whistlin' Dixie
  • be in a dream world
References in periodicals archive
TOUGH TASK AHEAD Maiden hurdle winner Whistle Dixie will be up against it at Fairyhouse
I'm ready to Whistle as I work
Today's 2m2f might not be quite far enough for her to show her best form, but both trip and ground help to Today's bets Carrigmoorna Rock 1.55 Fairyhouse, 1pt win Go Anna Go 3.40 Fairyhouse, 1pt each-way Whistle Dixie 4.15 Fairyhouse, 2pts win give her a fighting chance of turning the tables on Morning Run, who has been absent since that Down Royal success on better going.
Mullins runs Thurles winner Honeys Joy in the bumper (4.15), but this one may not be good enough to cope with Whistle Dixie, who established a good reputation with a point-to-point win for Pat Doyle last year and was reckoned not to have been fully tuned for her winning racecourse debut in a Limerick bumper.
Rock ready to steal glory from Morning
Whistle Dixie might have needed that run and is better judged on her bumper form, which included wins at Limerick and Fairyhouse and a creditable fourth to Hollies Pearl in a listed mares event in Aintree.
Undoubtedly a classy mare and conceding just 4lb to the Mullins-rained fouryear-old, Whistle Dixie is a hopeful nap choice.
ttebbob is ready for the battle; IRISH LATEST Gelding very hard to oppose
But Whistle Dixie was turned over (at 2/7) by the Gavin Cromwell-trained Elusive Ivy in Galway's opening mares maiden hurdle.
a sizable task for john foes; IRISH ROUND-UP Henry's hero hard to oppose
WHISTLE DIXIE should make a successful hurdling debut in the opening www.galwayraces.com Mares Maiden Hurdle in Galway.
Whistle Dixie also finished fourth to Hollies Pearl in a listed bumper in Aintree, having earlier started favourite when clipping heels and unseating Bryan Cooper in a similar event in Sandown.
Listen out for Whistle at Ballybrit
Successful, at her third attempt, in Southwell, Sea Pride finished a creditable third to Hollies Pearl in Aintree's listed mares bumper (just ahead of Gordon Elliott's Whistle Dixie) and, if travelling to the County Kilkenny venue, could face the likes of Willie Mullins Wicklow Brave in Saturday's race.
MAY RACE; IRISH ROUND-UP; Nicky's stars wait on the weather
And WHISTLE DIXIE, which clipped heels and unseated me in Sandown, has a great chance in the mares bumper.
King Bal
And I'm hoping to earn some sterling before the Festival on Whistle Dixie in the listed mares bumper in Sandown today.
I am very happy to Whistle while I work; DIXIE CAN HIT THE RIGHT NOTE IN SANDOWN AND GIVE ME PERFECT PREP FOR FESTIVAL
The Eoin Doyle-trained Davy From Milan appeals in the hunters' chase while Gordon Elliott's Whistle Dixie, winner of her only point-topoint, should be noted in the mares bumper, particularly if strong in the market.
Chance a Fine thing for Article