English

Verb

whistle for ‎(third-person singular simple present whistles for, present participle whistling for, simple past and past participle whistled for)

1. Used other than as an idiom: see whistle,‎ for.
2. (idiomatic) Ask for with no chance of success.
   • 2009, Max Arthur, We Will Remember Them: Voices from the Aftermath of the Great War, ISBN 0297857908:

     If we wanted something we could whistle for it - but if the Australians wanted something you'd got to get it for them, or else.

   • 2012, Joan Jonker, Walking My Baby Back Home, ISBN 075539027X:

     She could whistle for it now; she wouldn't get a penny from him even if she crawled on all fours.

   • 2014, Tess Read, The Secret Diary of Eric Cowell - Aged 6 1/2 months, ISBN 1784182508:

     And if it was milk I was after from that environment I could clearly whistle for it.

   • 1973, Doris Lessing, The Grass is Singing, ISBN 0435901311, page 96:

     And as for ceilings, you can whistle for them. I have lived in this house for six years and it hasn't hurt me.