sniff at someone or something
- sniff at someone or something
sniff at someone or something
1. Lit. to try to get the smell of someone or something by smelling. •
The dog sniffed at the visitor.
•
The cat sniffed at almost every inch of the rug that the dog had walked on.
2. Fig. to show one's disapproval of someone or something by sniffing. (Sometimes this is figurative, the “sniffing” being expressed by tone of voice or gesture.) •
I made one suggestion, but Claire just sniffed at me.
•
Gale just sniffed at the idea and would say nothing.
Dictionary of American idioms.
2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
sniff out someone — sniff out (someone/something) to discover someone or something, usually only after a special effort. Part of their job is to sniff out talented new writers. The FBI knew they had a double agent in their midst, but it took years to sniff him out … New idioms dictionary
sniff out something — sniff out (someone/something) to discover someone or something, usually only after a special effort. Part of their job is to sniff out talented new writers. The FBI knew they had a double agent in their midst, but it took years to sniff him out … New idioms dictionary
sniff out — (someone/something) to discover someone or something, usually only after a special effort. Part of their job is to sniff out talented new writers. The FBI knew they had a double agent in their midst, but it took years to sniff him out … New idioms dictionary
sniff — [[t]snɪ̱f[/t]] sniffs, sniffing, sniffed 1) VERB When you sniff, you breathe in air through your nose hard enough to make a sound, for example when you are trying not to cry, or in order to show disapproval. She wiped her face and sniffed loudly … English dictionary
sniff — sniff1 [ snıf ] verb * 1. ) intransitive or transitive to breathe in noisily through your nose, for example because you have been crying: Amanda sniffed and wiped her nose. It wasn t my fault! he sniffed. a ) to smell something: sniff at: Henry… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
sniff — /snɪf / (say snif) verb (i) 1. to draw air through the nose in short, audible inhalation. 2. to clear the nose by so doing; sniffle, as with emotion. –verb (t) 3. to draw in or up through the nose by sniffing, as air, smells, liquid, powder,… …
sniff around — phrasal verb sniff around or sniff round [intransitive/transitive] Word forms sniff around : present tense I/you/we/they sniff around he/she/it sniffs around present participle sniffing around past tense sniffed around past participle sniffed… … English dictionary
sniff round — phrasal verb sniff around or sniff round [intransitive/transitive] Word forms sniff around : present tense I/you/we/they sniff around he/she/it sniffs around present participle sniffing around past tense sniffed around past participle sniffed… … English dictionary
sniff around — (in BRIT, also use sniff about, sniff round) 1) PHRASAL VERB If a person is sniffing around, they are trying to find out information about something, especially information that someone else does not want known. [INFORMAL] [V P] But really, what… … English dictionary
be nothing to sniff at — be nothing to sneeze/sniff at American & Australian, informal (not) to be sneezed/sniffed at if something or someone is not to be sneezed at, they are important or dangerous enough to deserve serious attention. Blizzards with a foot of snow are… … New idioms dictionary
sniffy — sniff|y [ snıfi ] adjective INFORMAL behaving in a way that shows that you do not think someone or something is good or important enough for you ╾ sniff|i|ly adverb … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
