People used to whistle. In old black and white films from the 30's and 40's people were seen whistling. I am trying to remember how it was used in film back then and I seem to recall it was an activity given to delinquents on corners, as a precursor to flirting; a way of being noticed, and when danger was imminent. But there was a time when everyday people whistled and hummed while they worked. I am incapable of whistling and I attribute this to having had braces as a child. I can purse my lips and blow out air but what comes out sounds like a pathetic wheeze as though my whistle is permanently dry. To wet your whistle. Up until this moment I thought the phrase meant to lubricate the mouth by licking ones lips to prepare for whistling. In fact it means to have a drink which I guess means to wet the part of your body where a whistle emanates from. When you watch whistlers whistle they are often seen licking their lips to re-lubricate for the next sound to emerge from their m...
mostly gentle, sometimes turbulent