smell out

Meaning

1. 1

   smell sb / sth out

   to be aware of fear, danger, trouble, etc. in a situation

   He could always smell out fear.

2. 2

   smell sb / sth out

   to find sth by smelling

   dogs trained to smell out drugs

In the movies · 7

• Smell him out.The Fox and the Hound1981
• Bits going everywhere. The smell's going out.My Octopus Teacher2020
• I'm gonna come out smelling like swamp butt.Aquaman2018
• Yeah, the smell's still not out of my car.Anyone But You2023
• You can't get the smell of bacon out in five minutes.The One I Love2014
• I got Van Hay to open both doors, but that smell won't go out for five years.The Green Mile1999
• Will. Let's keep the smell of pigs out from where we're drinking.Shane1953

From the same entry

• come up of smelling of roses
• smell a rat
• a rose by any other name would smell as sweet
• wake up and smell the coffee
• the sweet smell of success