Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
pay for one's whistle en · VERB
Pronunciation
Meanings
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(dated) To pay dearly for one's caprice.
He felt mightily experienced at this time, and realized, as he thought, quite clearly, the price he had paid for his whistle. He had had his lesson, so he told himself, and had paid for it, […]
1891, David Christie Murray, Henry Herman, He Fell Among Thieves, page 30:[…] the ship may be on shore before the leader of the band can be convinced how dearly he has "paid for his whistle."
1836, William Nugent Glascock, The Naval Service, page 239:
Forms