English

Verb

whistle in the dark

1. (colloquial) To make a show of bravery despite one's fears; to put on a brave front.
   • 2011, Norman Davies, Vanished Kingdoms, Penguin 2012, p. 6:

     Those who seriously believe ‘There'll always be an England’ are whistling in the dark.

2. (idiomatic, US) To speak of something despite having little knowledge of it.

Synonyms

• (make a show of bravery): whistle past the graveyard
• (speak of something without knowledge): talk through one's hat

Translations

See also

• whistle past the graveyard
• whistle Dixie