wolf-whistle
the whistle of a man to show that he finds a woman attractive
TRANSLATION
wolf-whistle = bewundernder Pfiff; jdm. nachpfeifen --- GOOGLE INDEX wolf-whistle: approximately 90,000 hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
"WOLF-WHISTLING is not something we take lightly. It is intimidating, not just to women but to people on the street generally. It presents the wrong image to our potential clients."
- managing director of a UK cable company, in response to complaints that some of the company's construction workers whistle at women on the street
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The bad news this week is that WOLF-WHISTLING is to be outlawed on building sites, because the construction industry wants to improve its image.
- female columnist writing for the Sunday Mirror newspaper
- managing director of a UK cable company, in response to complaints that some of the company's construction workers whistle at women on the street
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The bad news this week is that WOLF-WHISTLING is to be outlawed on building sites, because the construction industry wants to improve its image.
- female columnist writing for the Sunday Mirror newspaper
Did you
know?
wolf-whistle
noun phrase, verb phrase
- to make a short, high sound, followed by a longer sound that drops from high to low, when you see a person who you find attractive
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
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WORD ORIGIN
The term wolf-whistle stems from the idea of a wolf stalking its prey. While this offers an unpleasant image, wolf-whistling was once considered a harmless way for men to simply show their admiration for an attractive woman. But times change and so do certain rituals. Some women feel intimidated by wolf-whistling. Unless of course, the origin of the wolf-whistle is a parrot, which in this case makes it more of an annoyance.
As the BBC reported, the members of a church in a borough of Leeds were upset by the constant wolf-whistling of a trio of African grey parrots who found a home in a tree next to the church. The obviously domesticated, but free-flying parrots took to wolf-whistling during Sunday services, even while the congregation was praying together.
A pub in Wales is considering banning its pet Hyacinth Macaw, the largest of the parrot family, from public areas. The pub's owner says the bird has taken to copying the behaviour of its regular guests - drinking from pints, taking cigarettes from packets on the bar, and even swearing. He adds
"The worst thing is his wolf-whistling. Women hear a loud whistle when they walk in and they think it's me."
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SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"Wolf-whistling is totally inappropriate behaviour in this company."
noun phrase, verb phrase
- to make a short, high sound, followed by a longer sound that drops from high to low, when you see a person who you find attractive
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
---
WORD ORIGIN
The term wolf-whistle stems from the idea of a wolf stalking its prey. While this offers an unpleasant image, wolf-whistling was once considered a harmless way for men to simply show their admiration for an attractive woman. But times change and so do certain rituals. Some women feel intimidated by wolf-whistling. Unless of course, the origin of the wolf-whistle is a parrot, which in this case makes it more of an annoyance.
As the BBC reported, the members of a church in a borough of Leeds were upset by the constant wolf-whistling of a trio of African grey parrots who found a home in a tree next to the church. The obviously domesticated, but free-flying parrots took to wolf-whistling during Sunday services, even while the congregation was praying together.
A pub in Wales is considering banning its pet Hyacinth Macaw, the largest of the parrot family, from public areas. The pub's owner says the bird has taken to copying the behaviour of its regular guests - drinking from pints, taking cigarettes from packets on the bar, and even swearing. He adds
"The worst thing is his wolf-whistling. Women hear a loud whistle when they walk in and they think it's me."
---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"Wolf-whistling is totally inappropriate behaviour in this company."
