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
