smell sth/sb out
mainly UK (US usually sniff sth/sb out) — phrasal verb with smell /smel/ verb (smelled or UK also smelt, smelled or UK smelt)Definition
› to discover where something or someone is by smelling: At customs, dogs are used to smell out drugs in passengers' luggage.Smells and smellingFinding and discovering
(Definition of smell sth/sb out from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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Synonyms and related words:
- a fishing expedition idiom
- ascertain verb
- break fresh/new ground idiom
- breakthrough noun
- catch sb red-handed idiom
- find (sth) out phrasal verb
- finder noun
- finders keepers (losers weepers) idiom
- finding noun (DISCOVERY)
- flush sb out phrasal verb
- on the scent idiom
- orientate verb (FIND POSITION)
- pin sth down phrasal verb
- put sb onto sth phrasal verb
- put your finger on sth idiom
- run sb/sth down phrasal verb (FIND)
- suss verb
- unearth verb
- unlock verb
- winkle sth/sb out phrasal verb
Topic:
Finding and discovering
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