smell someone or something out Definition

smell
noun

1. The sense that allows different odours to be recognized by specialized receptors in the mucous membranes of the nose.
2. The characteristic odour of a particular substance.

Example: It has a strong smell
Thesaurus: fragrance, scent, aroma, perfume, bouquet, odour.
3. An unpleasant odour

Example: What a smell!
4. An act of using this sense.

Example: Have a smell of this
5. A sense, savour or suggestion of something.

Example: The smell of money always brings him back

verb smelled, smelt, smelling

1. To recognize (a substance) by its odour.

Thesaurus: scent, sniff, inhale, get a whiff of, perceive, detect.
intr
2. To give off an unpleasant odour.

Example: This rubbish tip really smells
Thesaurus: stink, reek, stench.
3. To give off a specified odour

Example: the perfume smells flowery.
4. To be aware of something by intuition; to recognize signs or traces of.

Example: I smell a government cover-up

Derivative: smeller
noun

Idiom: smell a rat

See under rat.

Etymology: 12c as smel.

Phrasal Verb: smell of something

To give off an odour of it.To show signs or traces of it.
Example: It is an organization smelling of corruption

Phrasal Verb: smell someone or something out

To track them down by smell, or as if by smell.