whetting Definition
- 1sharpen the blade of (a tool or weapon)
- 2excite or stimulate (someone's desire, interest, or appetite)
Using whetting: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "whetting" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He was whetting his knife on a stone.
Example
The appetizers were served to whet our appetite.
Example
The preview whetted my interest in the movie.
Example
The coach gave a pep talk to whet the team's competitive spirit.
whetting Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with whetting
Example
After a long day at work, he went to the bar to whet his whistle.
Example
The aroma of the freshly baked bread whetted our appetite.
to prepare for something in advance and wait patiently for the right moment to act
Example
He whetted the knife and let it wait for the fish, ready to strike when the opportunity arose.
Origins of whetting
from Old English 'hwettan', meaning 'to sharpen'
Summary: whetting in Brief
'Whetting' [ˈwɛtɪŋ] refers to sharpening a tool or weapon, or stimulating someone's desire, interest, or appetite. It can be used literally, as in 'He was whetting his knife on a stone,' or figuratively, as in 'The preview whetted my interest in the movie.' The phrase 'whet one's whistle' means to drink something to quench one's thirst, while 'whet someone's appetite' means to increase someone's desire for something.
