1 B2 neutral
To pass by at high speed, often producing a whistling sound.
"A bullet whistled past his head and embedded itself in the wall behind him."
inseparable
whistle past
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To pass by very quickly, often with a whistling or hissing sound, or to narrowly avoid something dangerous.
In plain English
To go past something very fast, sometimes with a high noise, or to just barely miss danger.
What does "whistle past" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
To narrowly avoid something dangerous or to proceed despite obvious risk (especially in the phrase 'whistle past the graveyard').
"The financial sector has been whistling past the graveyard for years, ignoring the warning signs."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To pass by while making a whistling noise — as a bullet or arrow does when it travels through the air.
Actually means
To go past something very fast, sometimes with a high noise, or to just barely miss danger.
Usage tip
Used both literally (of fast-moving objects) and figuratively (of danger narrowly avoided). The phrase 'whistle past the graveyard' is a distinct idiom meaning to ignore danger or whistle to keep up one's courage.
Words that pair with "whistle past"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
bullet arrow car graveyard danger ear
How to conjugate "whistle past"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
whistle past
I/you/we/they
3rd person
whistles past
he/she/it
Past simple
whistled past
yesterday
Past participle
whistled past
have + pp
-ing form
whistling past
continuous
Hear "whistle past" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "whistle past" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "whistle past"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
fly past shoot past streak past whizz past zoom past
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