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Smell a Rat

To be skeptical about something wrong, someone who could sense the danger

Etymology:

  • Rats have been considered the most unpopular animals. Some disgusting, horrible and awful images and ideas are associated with them by the people. Since smelling a rat has been linked with cats for many centuries, but in 16th century, the phrase “smell a rat” was used for people who are able to identify something illegal. To suspect that something wrong, sinful and unfair has been taking place somewhere.
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“

I think all have smelled the rat of her surprise party; it is no more exciting now.

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Submitted on February 25, 2019

Additional definitions for 'Smell a Rat':

smell a ratTo sense something suspicious.
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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to Smell a Rat

wake up and smell the ashessmell of an oily ragwake up and smell the coffeerat outsmell ya latersmell bloodsewer ratrat's nestrat run/runningstop and smell the rosessmell of the lamprat throughrat racesmell up

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