have a sniff of (something)

1. To smell something briefly. I had a sniff of that soup he's making to make sure it's not too spicy this time. Let me have a sniff of your new cologne. Mmm, smells nice! Hey, have a sniff of this milk and tell me if you think it's gone bad.

2. To have even a tiny chance of getting something desirable. Usually used in negative constructions. My career has gone totally stagnant. I haven't had a sniff of a promotion in years. Health insurance, a company phone, and a pension plan? Man, I didn't have a sniff of benefits like those when I was working for the company. He didn't patent the design, which is why he won't have a sniff of the money they're making on it.