English

Verb

smell a rat ‎(third-person singular simple present smells a rat, present participle smelling a rat, simple past and past participle smelt a rat or smelled a rat)

1. (idiomatic) To sense something suspicious.
   • 1663, John Dryden, The Wild Gallant: A Comedy, act 4, scene 1:

     Oh, are you thereabouts, sir? then I smell a rat, i’faith; but I'll say nothing.

   • 1874, Anthony Trollope, Phineas Redux, ch. 40:

     Mr. Gresham, when he heard this, thought that he began to smell a rat, and was determined to be on his guard.

Translations

See also

• fishy
• nose test
• smell test