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whistle Dixie. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
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English
Etymology
Refers to the song "Dixie", the traditional anthem of the Confederate States of America. The full implication is that the Confederacy would not succeed in the American Civil War through sentiment or token action alone.
Pronunciation
Verb
whistle Dixie (third-person singular simple present whistles Dixie, present participle whistling Dixie, simple past and past participle whistled Dixie)
- (idiomatic, Southern US) To engage in idle conversational fantasies.
He said he was going to open a business next year, but I think he was just whistling Dixie.
"Sure is hot!" / "You ain't whistlin' Dixie!
Usage notes
- Frequently used in the negative, to mean someone or something is serious, as in, When I say that, I'm not just whistling Dixie, I really mean it.
Translations
to engage in idle conversational phantasies
See also
- engage in idle conversation, often including fantasies
- 'whistle' idioms