dog whistle

dog whistle

English

dog whistle

Noun

dog whistle (plural dog whistles)

1. A high-pitched whistle, inaudible to humans, used to train dogs.
2. That which is understood only by a narrow demographic.
   • 22 March 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club Cabin Boy

     But like a lot of these cult comedies, Cabin Boy was a dog whistle few could hear, and critics and audiences dismissed it quickly and forcefully: It left theaters with grosses south of $4 million and earned Elliott a “Worst New Star” Razzie nomination, no doubt for the adenoidal voice common to all fancy lads.

3. (politics) A political allusion or comment that only a certain audience are intended to note and recognize the significance of.
   • 1995: Jim Coyle, Ottawa Citizen, October 15, p a9/1:

     On the lips of Premier Mike Harris, the term ‘special interest’ has the tone of epithet. It’s an all-purpose dog-whistle that those fed up with feminists, minorities, the undeserving poor hear loud and clear.

Synonyms

• (high-pitched whistle): silent whistle, Galton's whistle

Derived terms

• dog-whistle politics
• dog-whistling

Anagrams

• white golds