sniff out

British  

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to detect through shrewdness or instinct

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sniff out Idioms  

1. Uncover, as If there's anything to that rumor, Gladys will sniff it out. This expression alludes to an animal sniffing for prey. [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sniff out

The audience can sniff out when you’ve lost the spark of it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, company leaders including Peter Thiel realized their technology could help the government sniff out terrorists.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

Officials such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the plan was to right-size the staff and introduce more technology to sniff out unpaid tax bills.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 5, 2026

Danoff’s long success was due in part to his ability to sniff out large growth companies early and ride them for years of gains.

From Barron's ● Jan. 27, 2026

I let him smell the couch where I sleep and crawl under the front steps to sniff out the mole lives under there, follow him all over creation when he takes out after a rabbit.

From "Shiloh" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

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Related Words

• ascertain
• bring to light
• drive out
• get at
• uncover
• unearth

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