The idiom "whistle past the graveyard" means to act as if everything is fine or to try to remain cheerful in a situation that is actually scary, dangerous or unsettling. It is often used to describe someone who is trying to hide their fear or anxiety by pretending to be brave or unconcerned.
The origin of this idiom comes from the idea that people would whistle or sing loudly as they walked past graveyards at night to try to keep their spirits up and avoid being scared by the thought of ghosts or other supernatural beings.
You can use this idiom in situations where someone is trying to put on a brave face in a difficult or scary situation. For example, if someone is trying to act calm and collected during a job interview, even though they are feeling nervous, you might say that they are "whistling past the graveyard." Similarly, if someone is trying to act cheerful after a bad breakup, you might say that they are "whistling past the graveyard" to hide their true feelings.
• The politician tried to whistle past the graveyard by avoiding questions about the controversial policy.
• Even though she was scared, she tried to whistle past the graveyard and act confident.
• She knew she couldn't whistle past the graveyard forever and had to face the consequences of her actions.
• The company tried to whistle past the graveyard by downplaying the environmental impact of its products.
• The author's use of humor in the novel allowed the reader to whistle past the graveyard of some difficult themes.
• I always whistle past the graveyard when I walk home alone at night.