View synonyms for whistle stop

whistle stop

noun

a small, unimportant town, especially one along a railroad line.
a short talk from the rear platform of a train, especially during a political campaign.
a brief appearance, single performance, or the like, in a small town, as during a political campaign or theatrical tour.

whistle-stop

[ hwis-uhl-stop, wis- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

, whis·tle-stopped, whis·tle-stop·ping.

to campaign for political office by traveling around the country, originally by train, stopping at small communities to address voters.
to take a trip consisting of several brief, usually overnight, stops.

occurring at a whistle stop; consisting of whistle stops:
a whistle-stop speech; a whistle-stop tour of the Northwest.

whistle stop

1. a minor railway station where trains stop only on signal
2. a small town having such a station
1. a brief appearance in a town, esp by a political candidate to make a speech, shake hands, etc
2. ( as modifier )
  a whistle-stop tour

intr to campaign for office by visiting many small towns to give short speeches

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

First recorded in 1950–55

Nobody had to explain to him that the two Gestapo agents had boarded the train at that whistle stop.

Seventy-five miles south of Chicago there is a whistle-stop called Shipmont.

Lansdale was too small even to be called a "whistle stop," because no trains came near it.

Why should he hang around this whistle stop for a wasted week-end, holding kitchen conversations with the unmighty living?

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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