whistle for

whistle for

1. To summon or signal for someone or something by whistling with one's mouth. It drove me crazy the way he whistled for the waiter during our meal—it was just so rude and arrogant. Needless to say, I don't think we'll be going on a second date.
2. To expect something with no chance of ever getting it. Usually said as a sarcastic demand or instruction. If you want us to pay for your legal bills, well, you can just whistle for it.
See also: whistle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

whistle for someone or something

to summon someone or something by whistling. I stood on the corner and whistled for a cab, but they all ignored me. I whistled for the dog, but it did not appear.
See also: whistle
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

whistle for

Ask for or expect without any prospect of success, as in If you want a cash refund, you can just whistle for it. [Mid-1700s]
See also: whistle
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

whistle for

v.
To summon someone or something by whistling: I whistled for my dog.
See also: whistle
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • summon up
  • whistle at
  • whistle at (someone or something)
  • whistle up
  • drive (someone) up the wall, to
  • a cut below
  • send (something) flying
  • as I was saying
  • like I was saying
  • right in the kisser
References in periodicals archive
ChildFund is introducing the habit of using whistles to alert assistance needed through the Whistle For Protection campaign, Manik said.
Campaign to use whistles to save lives launched
To be fair to football arbiters, kettles, and those blokes who stand on train platforms telling the driver it is safe to leave, they whistle for very good reasons.
Sports Betting: Sports On TV; pick of the day
"We did a duck call whistle for McMaster Canadian Whisky.
Business Profile: Simon Topman: I whistle while I work; Simon Topman, the owner and manager of Acme Whistles, wants to make a big noise during a year as President of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, he tells John Revill
(My two Kennedy concerts are permanently archived on its website.) I also have enjoyed concert bookings from coast-to-coast as well as appearing on many television programs, including "The Today Show," "CBS Early Show," and "CBS Sunday Morning." In 2004, I was invited to whistle for New York Gov.
Whistle while you work
Perhaps people today don't use a special whistle for their children.
Whistle drowned out by busy lives, cell phones
Their claim to fame came when the "Metropolitan" whistle was officially adopted as standard issue for the London Bobby in 1883, while the "Thunderer" became the world's leading pea whistle for referees when it was launched the following year.
Whistle blown on lips' stick; SATURDAY SIGNOFF
A RETIRED engineer has sounded the whistle for success after beating hundreds of contenders to win a competition.
North City News: Jim passes the whistle test; ERDINGTON
The Hudson's inventions include the Metropolitan whistle for the London Police that can be heard over a mile away (1883), the ACME Thunderer (1884), the ACME Siren (1895) and the ACME Silent Dog Whistle (1935).
Made in Birmingham