Meaning:
Being loud and boastful does nothing to actually show or prove your abilities.
Examples:
Have you calculated all the potential financial implications of this new
venture? You keep telling me you're some wizard with numbers, but it isn't
the whistle that pulls the train.
You say you're way stronger than me, so come on-let's arm wrestle and settle
it for good. It isn't the whistle that pulls the train!
When are these politicians going to realize that it isn't the whistle that
pulls the train-that they have to actually follow through on their promises
to remain in office!
https://www.thefreedictionary.com [edited]
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But in cases where one doesn't need to prove anything, tooting one's own horn
can be rewarded with the benefit of the doubt. For any length of time, the
whistle can grab and keep the credit. So first, one might want to practice
whistling and if they make a good pitch, they don't have to pull anything.
