Smell sth out Meaning & Examples: How to Use This Phrasal Verb

What Does “Smell sth out” Mean?

“Smell sth out” means to discover or detect something hidden, often by careful observation or investigation.

Introduction

The phrasal verb “smell sth out” is commonly used in English to describe the action of finding or sensing something that is not obvious. It often implies a process of searching or investigating to uncover hidden information or secrets. Understanding the “smell sth out meaning” helps learners use it confidently in conversations, especially in contexts involving detection, investigation, or discovery. This phrase can apply to situations ranging from detecting a lie to finding out a secret plan.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: smell something out
• Type: transitive
• Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
• Short meaning: to discover or detect something hidden

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Smell sth out” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object either between “smell” and “out” or after “out.”

• smell something out
• smell out something

Both forms are correct. For example: “The detective smelled the truth out” or “The detective smelled out the truth.”

How to Use Smell sth out?

Use “smell sth out” when talking about discovering something secret or hidden, often through intuition or investigation. It usually refers to information, problems, or situations rather than physical smells. This phrasal verb fits well in contexts like detective work, business, or everyday life when you suspect something is wrong or hidden.

Examples

When the manager noticed unusual behavior, she tried to smell out the reason behind it.

• The journalist smelled out the corruption within the company.
• He smelled out the truth behind the rumors.
• They smelled out the competitor’s secret strategy.
• She could smell out a lie from a mile away.
• The police smelled out the criminal’s hideout after days of searching.

These examples show how to use “smell sth out in a sentence” naturally.

Common Mistakes

People sometimes confuse “smell sth out” with literal smelling or use it with incorrect objects.

• Incorrect: I smelled out the cake in the oven. (literal smell, not discovery)
• Correct: I smelled out the secret ingredient in the recipe.
• Incorrect: She smelled out happy. (wrong object)
• Correct: She smelled out the truth.

Remember, “smell sth out” is about discovering or detecting something hidden, not about physical smells.

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrasal verbs include “find out,” “figure out,” and “root out.”

• Find out: To learn or discover information.
• Figure out: To understand or solve something.
• Root out: To remove or eliminate something undesirable.

“Smell sth out” often emphasizes the process of sensing or detecting something hidden, sometimes with intuition, unlike the others which focus more on final discovery or removal.

Common Collocations

“Smell sth out” is often used with these objects:

• Truth: Discovering what is really happening.
• Lie: Detecting dishonesty.
• Secret: Finding out hidden information.
• Problem: Sensing an issue that is not obvious.
• Clue: Detecting hints that lead to a conclusion.

These collocations help you use the phrasal verb naturally.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of smell sth out:

• Smell Of Sth
• Smell Sth Up

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “smell sth out”:

Anna: I think something’s wrong with the project, but I can’t tell what.

Mark: Let’s try to smell out the problem before it gets worse.

Anna: Good idea. Maybe someone is hiding important information.

Practice

Choose the correct sentence:

• a) The detective smelled out the hidden evidence.
• b) The detective smelled the hidden evidence out.
• c) The detective smelled the hidden evidence.
• d) The detective smelled out the cake.

(Correct answers: a and b)

FAQ

• What does “smell sth out” mean? It means to discover or detect something hidden.
• Is “smell sth out” separable? Yes, you can place the object between “smell” and “out” or after “out.”
• Can I use “smell sth out” for physical smells? No, it is used for discovering hidden information, not for literal smells.
• What level is “smell sth out” suitable for? It is best for B2 (Upper-Intermediate) learners and above.
• What are some synonyms of “smell sth out”? Find out, figure out, and root out are similar but have different focuses.