Whistle down the wind

Definitions

• to disregard or abandon something
  To dismiss or ignore something, especially when it is no longer relevant or of no use

• to waste time or effort
  To spend time or energy on something that is ultimately futile or pointless

Examples of Whistle down the wind

• The sales team was confident that their marketing strategies would whistle down the wind and bring in unprecedented sales for the company.

  Here, the idiom 'whistle down the wind' is used metaphorically to mean 'be extremely successful' or 'bring about success effortlessly'. The idea is that the sales team's marketing strategies will be extremely effective and bring in a large number of customers without much effort, just as a strong wind would make a whistle blow loudly and clearly on its own.

• The performing arts school's dance instructor warned her students that they needed to work harder if they wanted their dance routines to whistle down the wind at the upcoming competition.

  In this example, the idiom 'whistle down the wind' is used metaphorically to mean 'be extremely impressive or successful'. The idea is that the students' dance routines need to be so good that they will stand out and impress the judges and audience just as a strong wind would make a whistle blow loudly and clearly on its own. This could also be interpreted as meaning that the students' dance routines need to be so good that they will stand out and impress the judges and audience effortlessly, just as a strong wind would make a whistle blow loudly and clearly on its own.

• The startup's disruptive business model has already started to whistle down the wind, with investors clamoring to get a piece of the action.

  In this example, the idiom 'whistle down the wind' is used metaphorically to mean 'be wildly successful' or 'bring about great success'. The idea is that the startup's disruptive business model has already started to generate a significant amount of interest and investment, just as a strong wind would make a whistle blow loudly and clearly on its own, without much effort on the part of the startup.

• The musician's album is expected to whistle down the wind, as critics have already praised its innovative sound and catchy melodies.

  In this example, the idiom 'whistle down the wind' is used metaphorically to mean 'be wildly successful' or 'bring about great success'. The idea is that the musician's album is expected to generate a significant amount of sales and critical acclaim, just as a strong wind would make a whistle blow loudly and clearly on its own, without much effort on the part of the musician. This could also be interpreted as meaning that the album's innovative sound and catchy melodies will stand out and impress listeners effortlessly, just as a strong wind would make a whistle blow loudly and clearly on its own.

• The sales team is working diligently to whistle down the wind of competition in our industry.

  This figure of speech is being used in the context of a highly competitive business environment. It implies that the sales team is making intense efforts to achieve success in the marketplace, despite facing strong competition from rival businesses. By whistling down the wind of competition, the sales team is effectively neutralizing or minimizing the impact of their competitors, much like the whistle of a shepherd can be heard over the wind to guide his flock. In practical terms, this might involve implementing innovative strategies, offering better products or services, or simply outperforming the competition in terms of customer satisfaction or market share.

• The police whistled down the wind of corruption in their department, with a major crackdown on corrupt officials.

  This idiomatic expression is being used to describe a significant initiative taken by the police to combat corruption in their department. The phrase "whistle down the wind of corruption" implies a strong, decisive action taken to combat a deeply entrenched problem. The expression "whistling down" is used here to suggest an authoritative or forceful action, much like the whistle of a shepherd that can cut through the wind to signal his flock. In practical terms, this might include conducting audits or investigations, enforcing stricter disciplinary measures, or collaborating with external agencies to tackle the issue more effectively.

• The child's voice carried on the wind, whistling down the street as he ran home from school.

  This idiomatic expression is being used in the context of a child's excitement or enthusiasm, as expressed through his voice. The phrase "whistle down the wind" is used here in a more figurative sense, to convey the sense of the child's voice carrying far and clear, much like the sound of a whistle being heard over the wind. In practical terms, this might involve the child's voice being carried by a strong breeze, or simply the child's energy and enthusiasm being so contagious that it results in his voice carrying beyond its normal range.

• The singer's voice whistled down the wind, piercing through the crowd's chatter and holding them captive in her thrall.

  This idiomatic expression is being used in the context of a powerful and captivating performance by a singer. The phrase "whistle down the wind" is used here in a more figurative sense, to convey the sense of the singer's voice being so mesmerizing and impactful that it cuts through all other noise and demands the audience's attention. In practical terms, this might involve the singer's voice being amplified by the acoustics of the venue, or simply the singer's exceptional talent and skill capturing the audience's imagination.

Conclusion

The idiom "whistle down the wind" can be used to convey the idea of disregarding or abandoning something, as well as wasting time or effort on something pointless. It is often used to caution against pursuing a futile course of action or to dismiss something as no longer relevant or useful.

Origin of "Whistle down the wind"

The origin of the idiom "whistle down the wind" is unclear, but it may have originated from the idea of whistling into the wind, which is a futile and pointless activity as the wind would simply carry the sound away. The idiom may have evolved from this concept to convey the idea of wasting time or effort on something that will not yield any positive results. The phrase may also have been inspired by the natural act of whistling, which is often done casually and without much purpose, similar to how one might dismiss or ignore something as no longer relevant. Overall, the idiom "whistle down the wind" is used to caution against pursuing futile endeavors and to dismiss something as no longer useful or relevant.