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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

whistle jigs to a milestone en · VERB

Meanings

  1. (Ireland) To do something utterly futile or ineffective.
    • I won't be arguin' any more wid you, for I see plainly that I might as well be whistlin' jigs to a milestone as to be pladin' wid you. But I'll say wan thing to you […] 1880, Margaret W. Brew, The Burtons of Dunroe (volume 1, page 130)
    • “Gentlemen, both!” I answered, moderating them again as I had moderated them once already. “In the matter of the moss rose there is a great deal to be said on both sides!” I might as well (as the Irish say) have whistled jigs to a milestone. Away they went together, fighting the battle of the roses without asking or giving quarter on either side. 1868, Wilkie Collins, The Moonstone:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
whistling jigs to a milestone Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
whistles jigs to a milestone Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
whistled jigs to a milestone Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
whistled jigs to a milestone Tense=Past lexicographic