whistle in the dark en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
-
(colloquial) To make a show of bravery despite one's fears; to put on a brave face.
Those who seriously believe ‘There'll always be an England’ are whistling in the dark.
2011, Norman Davies, Vanished Kingdoms, Penguin, published 2012, page 6:
- (US, idiomatic) To speak of something despite having little knowledge of it.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| whistled in the dark | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| whistled in the dark | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| whistling in the dark | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| whistles in the dark | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Relateds
whistle down the wind · whistle Dixie · whistle past the graveyard · whistle in the wind
Synonyms
whistle past the graveyard (make a show of bravery) · talk through one's hat (speak of something without knowledge) · talk out one's ass (speak of something without knowledge)
Translations (14)
ru говори́ть не зна́я ничего́ то́лком (speak without knowledge) · es poner buena cara (make a show of bravery) · fi puhua läpiä päähänsä (speak without knowledge) · ru бодри́ться (make a show of bravery) · cmn 壮胆 (make a show of bravery) · es mojonear (speak without knowledge) · fi vislailla (make a show of bravery) · de wie der Blinde von der Farbe reden (speak without knowledge) · ru напускать на себя́ споко́йствие (make a show of bravery) · pl zrobić dobrą minę do złej gry (make a show of bravery) · pl robić dobrą minę do złej gry (make a show of bravery) · pl pleść, co ślina na język przyniesie (speak without knowledge) · cmn 乱猜 (speak without knowledge) · de pfeifen im Walde (make a show of bravery)