wet one's whistle

Meaning: To have a drink.

Example: “After the long hike, we stopped at the tavern to wet our whistles.”

Origin: The 'whistle' is a metaphor for the mouth or throat; wetting it with drink is a playful way to describe drinking.

More English idioms

out of spoons Exhausted of energy or resources, usually mental or emotional.
bad apple A person of bad character whose presence corrupts or damages others or a group.
thrash out To discuss and resolve a contentious issue thoroughly through frank dialogue.
play Cupid To act as a matchmaker by trying to bring two people together romantically.
cut a rug To dance with energy and style, particularly in early twentieth-century jazz or swing sty…
stumbling block An obstacle or barrier that impedes progress or causes difficulty.

Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.

Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said the butter's bitter. A 'b / t / tt' plosive drill that bounces between Betty, butter, and bitter.
She sells seashells by the seashore. The definitive 's' versus 'sh' alternation — the tongue has to switch place of articulati…
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A relentless 'p' plosive drill; a peck is an old dry measure of about nine litres.

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