How Do You Spell SNIFFS AT?

Pronunciation: [snˈɪfs at] (IPA)

The spelling of "sniffs at" may seem simple, but its pronunciation can be tricky. The IPA phonetic transcription for this phrase is /snɪfs æt/. The "s" sound represents the voiceless alveolar fricative, while the "n" sound represents the voiced alveolar nasal. The "i" sound is pronounced as the short "i" vowel, followed by the voiceless labiodental fricative "f." Lastly, the "s" sound is repeated, followed by the "æ" sound, which is the vowel sound in "cat." Overall, "sniffs at" is a challenging phrase to pronounce correctly due to its combination of fricatives and nasal sounds.

SNIFFS AT Meaning and Definition

1. The phrase "sniffs at" refers to the act of inhaling or smelling something with a disdainful or skeptical attitude. It suggests a subtle gesture or action, often accompanied by a brief and delicate inhalation through the nose. This expression implies a sniffing motion that conveys a sense of skepticism, criticism, or disapproval towards the object or situation being smelled.

   When someone "sniffs at" something, they are typically exhibiting a nonverbal reaction that signifies their dissatisfaction, doubt, or lack of interest. This action is often seen as a dismissive or haughty response, as if the person is metaphorically sniffing at an unpleasant odor. The connotation of this phrase reflects an air of superiority, judgment, or arrogance towards what is being sniffed.

   "Sniffs at" is commonly used when describing a person's disdain or cautiosness towards new ideas, suggestions, or proposals. It can also refer to a person's reaction to certain odors, flavors, or scents that they find unappealing or questionable. Furthermore, this phrase can describe an individual's figurative act of internally assessing or evaluating something but revealing skepticism or unenthusiasm.

   Overall, "sniffs at" captures a specific gesture and the attitude behind it, characterizing an individual's act of inhaling or smelling something with a disdainful or doubtful outlook. It serves as a nonverbal expression of skepticism, criticism, or disapproval.

Common Misspellings for SNIFFS AT

• aniffs at
• zniffs at
• xniffs at
• dniffs at
• eniffs at
• wniffs at
• sbiffs at
• smiffs at
• sjiffs at
• shiffs at
• snuffs at
• snjffs at
• snkffs at
• snoffs at
• sn9ffs at
• sn8ffs at
• snidfs at
• snicfs at
• snivfs at
• snigfs at

Etymology of SNIFFS AT

The word "sniffs" is derived from the Middle English word "snifflen" or "snivelen", which meant "to breathe through the nose with a quick, audible inhalation". These Middle English terms are believed to be cognates of the Low German word "snüfeln", meaning "to sniff". The addition of the preposition "at" creates the phrase "sniffs at", indicating the action of inhaling or sniffing something in a disdainful or contemptuous manner.