smell up

Idioms  

1. Also, stink up. Cause a bad odor, as in These onions smell up the whole house, or Your old sneakers are stinking up the closet; throw them out. [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

The worst they’ve done is smell up the house after rolling around outside with a couple of dirty beagles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

In some cases, moisture will drip down into the heating element, which can smell up your house or even short the wiring and destroy the dehydrator.

From Salon • Aug. 25, 2022

The danger, though, is that squashed stink bugs can smell up the vacuum cleaner.

From Washington Post • Sep. 24, 2010

The speed at which I eat it, it doesn't smell up the place too bad.

From Time Magazine Archive

“Don’ they smell up th’ whole house?” said Emmaline.

From The Valiants of Virginia by Rives, Hallie Erminie