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Boo vs Whistle - What's the difference?

boo | whistle | Related terms |

In intransitive terms the difference between boo and whistle

is that boo is to shout extended boos derisively while whistle is to move in such a way as to create a whistling sound.

In transitive terms the difference between boo and whistle

is that boo is to derisively shout extended boos at while whistle is to send, signal, or call by a whistle.

As an interjection boo

is a loud exclamation intended to scare someone, especially a child. Usually used when one has been hidden from the victim and then suddenly appeared unexpectedly.

boo

English

Etymology 1

Coined to create a loud and startling sound. Compare Latin .

Interjection

(en interjection)
  • A loud exclamation intended to scare someone, especially a child. Usually used when one has been hidden from the victim and then suddenly appeared unexpectedly.
  • A word used ironically in a situation where one might have scared someone, but said someone was not scared. Not said as loudly as in definition 1.
  • An exclamation used by a member or many members of an audience, as at a stage play or sports game, to indicate derision or disapproval of what has just occurred.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A derisive shout made to indicate disapproval.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2010 , date=December 29 , author=Sam Sheringham , title=Liverpool 0 - 1 Wolverhampton , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=...Hodgson headed down the tunnel with the boos of fans ringing in his ears after an eighth league defeat of the season...}}

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shout extended boos derisively.
    • When he took the podium, the crowd booed .
  • * 2004 , The New Yorker, 18 Oct 2004
    • Nobody booed and nobody clapped
  • To derisively shout extended boos at.
    • The protesters loudly booed the visiting senator.

    Etymology 2

    From beau.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (US, AAVE, slang) A close acquaintance or significant other.

    • Anagrams

    * * ----

    whistle

    English

    (wikipedia whistle)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A device designed to be placed in the mouth in order, or driven by steam or otherwise, to make a whistling sound.
  • An act of whistling.
  • A shrill, high-pitched sound made by whistling.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=We expressed our readiness, and in ten minutes were in the station wagon, rolling rapidly down the long drive, for it was then after nine.
  • Any high-pitched sound similar to the sound made by whistling.
    • the whistle of the wind in the trees
  • (Cockney rhyming slang) A suit (from whistle and flute ).
  • * 2005 , Wally Payne, A Minority of One: A Monkey's Tale Continued
    • We soldiers changed into our No.1 dress uniforms, Sid into his best whistle and we set off for the church.
  • The mouth and throat; so called as being the organs of whistling.
  • * Walton
    • Let's drink the other cup to wet our whistles .

    Derived terms

    * bells and whistles * * it's not the whistle that pulls the train * wet one's whistle * whistle-blower * whistle pig * whistle-stop * whistle walk

    Verb

    (whistl)
  • (ambitransitive) To make a shrill, high-pitched sound by forcing air through the mouth. To produce a whistling sound, restrictions to the flow of air are created using the teeth, tongue and lips.
    • Never whistle at a funeral.
    She was whistling a happy tune.
  • To move in such a way as to create a whistling sound.
    • A bullet whistled past.
  • To send, signal, or call by a whistle.
  • * Addison
    • He chanced to miss his dog; we stood still till he had whistled him up.

    Derived terms

    * whistle Dixie * whistle in the dark * whistle past the graveyard

    See also

    * (wikipedia "whistle")