SMELLING OUT Meaning and
Definition
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The term "smelling out" is a phrasal verb that typically refers to the act of detecting or discovering something by using one's sense of smell or by using clever investigative techniques. It is often used figuratively to describe the process of uncovering hidden information, exposing wrongdoing, or revealing someone's true character.
In a literal sense, "smelling out" can be associated with the ability of certain animals, such as dogs or rodents, to detect or locate specific scents. For instance, police dogs are trained to "smell out" drugs or explosives, aiding law enforcement in their investigations. Similarly, animals like rats are used for "smelling out" landmines in minefields.
When used metaphorically, "smelling out" implies a process of investigation and detecting the truth behind a situation or a person's intentions. It often highlights the skill of perceiving or discerning something that is not immediately evident. For example, a detective may be described as "smelling out" clues to solve a crime. Similarly, a perceptive individual might be praised for their ability to "smell out" deception in someone's words or actions.
Overall, "smelling out" encompasses the idea of using one's sense of smell, or metaphorically speaking, one's intuition and investigative skills to uncover hidden or concealed information, leading to a better understanding of a situation or exposing the truth.
Common Misspellings for SMELLING OUT
- amelling out
- zmelling out
- xmelling out
- dmelling out
- emelling out
- wmelling out
- snelling out
- skelling out
- sjelling out
- smwlling out
- smslling out
- smdlling out
- smrlling out
- sm4lling out
- sm3lling out
- smekling out
- smepling out
- smeoling out
- smelking out
- smelping out
Etymology of SMELLING OUT
The phrase "smelling out" does not have a specific etymology as a standalone word or phrase. However, if you are referring to the phrase "to smell out", it is a idiomatic expression.
The word "smell" comes from Old English "smyl" and traces back to Proto-Germanic "smulaz", meaning "odor, smell". It has retained a similar meaning throughout different stages of the English language.
The addition of the preposition "out" is used here in the sense of searching or discovering something. It is frequently used in phrasal verbs to indicate movement away from a particular location or to express completion or exhaustiveness. In the case of "smell out", it indicates the act of detecting or discovering something through the sense of smell.
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