OT: Quick Break. Whet or Wet Your Appetite?

[Kibitzer]

Readers see it both ways, so which is correct?

Wet (v.) means "to moisten."
Whet means "to stimulate."
​

It is correct to write that you may (1) whet your appetite or to plan to (2) wet your whistle.

In #1 you describe your increased hunger.
In #2 you intend to have a drink by using "whistle" as a metonym for "mouth."​

A couple more examples of metonymy: "plastic" for credit card; "Washington" for Federal Government. Got the idea? OK, we'll discuss the synecdoche later.

 

[JordyG]

I've always used "whet" my/your/his/their appetite rather that "wet". But I can see the metaphorical phrase using "wet" if the "appetite" is metaphorically parched and simply "moistened" instead of slacked. "Wet" still makes sense.

Whet has the added meaning of "honing" or sharpening, so it could also be used to mean educating, improving or even changing one's appetite.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I've always used "whet" my/your/his/their appetite rather that "wet". But I can see the metaphorical phrase using "wet" if the "appetite" is metaphorically parched and simply "moistened" instead of slacked. "Wet" still makes sense.

Whet has the added meaning of "honing" or sharpening, so it could also be used to mean educating, improving or even changing one's appetite.

you can whet your taste buds ---but don't wet your pants. If you wet your taste buds you may try to whet your pants.

 

[UcMiami]

When I whet my appetite with a nice oloroso sherry, I could say that I am also wetting my appetite as I am moistening those taste buds for the meal to come!

I always thing of 'whet' as 'sharpen' (e.g. whetstone) and whetting ones appetite to be sharpening it.

 

[JordyG]

When I whet my appetite with a nice oloroso sherry, I could say that I am also wetting my appetite as I am moistening those taste buds for the meal to come!

I always thing of 'whet' as 'sharpen' (e.g. whetstone) and whetting ones appetite to be sharpening it.

Yes. Whetting ones appetite makes it keen, which is what honing does. Meaning of course what was once dull becomes sharper, but not yet fully sharp or honed.

 

[pinotbear]

apple pie wets my appetite, 'cause it makes me drool....

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Your efforts Kib to whet our intelligence, though obviously futile, are always appreciated.

 

[JordyG]

I whet my appetite for UConn against Chattanooga by watching the Dayton game again. Then I watched the first few minutes against the Mocs and wet my pants.