Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
noun
A high-pitched whistle, generally inaudible to humans, used to train dogs.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: silent whistle, Galton's whistle
Antonyms: none provided
noun
That which is understood only by a narrow demographic.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A political allusion or comment that only a certain audience is intended to note and recognize the significance of; particularly in relation to controversial or extreme viewpoints.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: derogatory, sometimes
Topics: government, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: codeword
Antonyms: none provided
History
dog + whistle. The figurative senses derive from the whistle's sound frequency, which is too high to be heard by human but can be heard by dogs.
Across languages
7 source translations are retained for this English entry.
