sniff

Definition

  • verb: to take air into your nose in short breaths that are loud enough to be heard
  • verb: to draw air audibly up the nose especially for smelling
  • usually + 'of'
  • synonyms: snuff, smell, inhale

Examples

  • The team did not even get a 'sniff of' the play-offs last year. [=did not even come close to reaching the play-offs]

  • It's not a big profit, but it's 'not to be sniffed at'. = It's not a big profit, but it's 'nothing to sniff at'.

  • Several companies, 'sniffing' [='sensing'] profit potential, are investing in the area.

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) line twice and he didn't alter it. Within a month? How did you get that? New Breitling. Only came out this February. OK. So do you think we should sniff around here for a bit longer? Got everything I need to know already, thanks. That graffiti was a message. Someone at the bank, (..)
    2010 TvShow: Sherlock Title: The Blind Banker Season: 1 Episode 2