Smell a rat In english explanation

The meaning, explanation, definition and origin of the idiom/phrase "smell a rat", English Idiom Dictionary ( also found in Vietnamese )

Mirabella Luu

2020-12-13 02:12

Meaning of Smell a rat

Synonyms:

have doubts about , have reservations about , mistrust , something smells off , something smells fishy

Smell a rat verb phrase

To doubt that something is untrue, unreliable or deceptive

My girlfriend went out with a strange guy yesterday and told me that he was just a close friend, but I smelled a rat and fell out with her.

They asked me to jot down my bank account password. I smell a rat.

Other phrases about:

string someone along

To maintain someone's attention or to keep them waiting in a state of uncertainty.

crooked as a dog's hind leg

Very dishonest and deceptive

couldn't lie straight in bed

To be dishonest or deceptive and no one can believe

crooked as a barrel of fish hooks

Very dishonest and deceptive

sail under false colours

To deliberately hide one's true nature, intentions or purposes

Grammar and Usage of Smell a rat

Verb Forms

to smell a rat
smelled a rat
smelling a rat
smells a rat

the verb "smell" should be conjugated according to its tense.

Origin of Smell a rat

Rats often hold a negative connotation.
Source: Pinterest

Although the exact origin is unknown, this expression was first used in the 1800s. Rats often hold a negative connotation. They are smelly nuisances that carry infections and diseases. Figuratively speaking, a rat is someone who is a snitch or a government informant of some kind.

If you smell a rat, you sense something suspicious about someone in your crew. Perhaps someone is working with the government to turn you in—or there is a coup planned to overtake you.