The phrase "stink to high heaven" is used to describe an unpleasant odor that is particularly strong and offensive. The word "stink" is pronounced /stɪŋk/, while "to" is pronounced /tu/ and "high" is pronounced /haɪ/. "Heaven" is pronounced /ˈhɛvən/. The spelling of the word is straightforward, with no unusual combinations of letters. However, its meaning is impactful and adds color to descriptions of foul smells that linger in the air.
The phrase "stink to high heaven" is an idiomatic expression used to describe something or someone that emits a strong and offensive odor. It is often employed figuratively to denote a situation, action, or behavior that is morally or ethically repugnant, dishonest, or deceitful.
Literally, the term refers to an intense and unpleasant smell that wafts through the air, overpowering the surrounding environment. This odor is often so overwhelming that it reaches significant heights and travels a considerable distance from its source. The phrase draws on this imagery to suggest that the detected smell is not only repulsive but pervasive, permeating the air and rendering it unmistakable.
In a figurative sense, when something "stinks to high heaven," it implies that whatever is being referred to is not only morally offensive but also blatantly and irrefutably so. It speaks to a situation or action that is reprehensible, corrupt, or dishonest enough to be evident and apparent to even the casual observer. This expression stresses the strong and inescapable nature of the negative attributes being described, leaving no room for doubt or ambiguity about the issue at hand.
Therefore, "stink to high heaven" signals a powerful and unequivocal condemnation of something with a pervasive and offensive odor, whether literal or metaphorical, drawing attention to its unpalatable and objectionable nature.