a sniff of (something)

1. A brief instance of smelling something. I had a sniff of the soup he was making to see if it was as spicy as last time. Take a sniff of this milk and tell me if you think it's gone bad. I got a sniff of his cologne, and, whew, is it ever strong!

2. A faint odor or scent. Yuck, I just caught a sniff of dog poop. Did you step in some on the way home? I think I'm getting a sniff of garlic from the broth—is that correct? The breeze gave me a sniff of the flowers from my neighbor's garden.

3. An extremely small portion or sample of something desirable. Health insurance, a company phone, and a pension plan? Man, I didn't get a sniff of benefits like those when I was working for the company. He didn't patent the design, so when it went on to make millions of dollars for a rival company, he didn't get a sniff of the profits. I left that job because I didn't get a sniff of a raise in five years.

4. A very small amount of information, especially just enough to give someone an indication or inkling of something. Make sure you don't let the boss get a sniff of what you're trying to do, or you'll get fired so fast your head will spin! Detective Matheson says he's caught a sniff of something going down at the docks tomorrow night. Sounds like it could be a major drug deal. If you keep acting weird like that, Mom will get a sniff of our plans to sneak out and go to the party.

catch a sniff of (something)

1. To detect a faint odor or scent. Yuck, I just caught a sniff of dog poop. Did you step in some on the way home? I think I'm catching a sniff of garlic from the broth—is that correct? On a warm, breezy day like this, you're sure to catch a sniff of the flowers from the neighbor's garden.

2. To receive an extremely small portion or sample of something desirable. Health insurance, a company phone, and a pension plan? Man, I didn't catch a sniff of benefits like those when I was working for the company. He didn't patent the design, so he won't catch a sniff of the money they're making on it. I left that job after I didn't catch a sniff of a raise in five years.

3. To receive a very small amount of information, especially just enough to give someone an indication or inkling of something. Make sure you don't let the boss catch a sniff of what you're trying to do, or you'll get fired so fast your head will spin! Detective Matheson says he's caught a sniff of something going down at the docks tomorrow night. Sounds like it could be a major drug deal. If you keep acting weird like that, Mom will catch a sniff of our plans to sneak out and go to the party.

get a sniff of (something)

1. To smell or detect a faint odor or scent. Yuck, I just got a sniff of dog poop. Did anyone step in any on the way home? I think I'm getting a sniff of garlic from the broth—is that correct? Thanks to that nice breeze, I got a sniff of the flowers from my neighbor's garden.

2. To smell something briefly. I want to get a sniff of that soup he's making to see if it's as spicy as last time. Get a sniff of this milk and tell me if you think it's gone bad. I got a sniff of his cologne, and, whew, is it ever strong!

3. To receive an extremely small portion or sample of something desirable. Health insurance, a company phone, and a pension plan? Man, I didn't get a sniff of benefits like those when I was working for the company. He didn't patent the design, so he won't get a sniff of the money they're making on it. I left that job because I didn't get a sniff of a raise in five years.

4. To receive a very small amount of information, especially just enough to give someone an indication or inkling of something. Make sure you don't let the boss get a sniff of what you're trying to do, or you'll get fired so fast your head will spin! Detective Matheson says he's gotten a sniff of something going down at the docks tomorrow night. Sounds like it could be a major drug deal. If you keep acting weird like that, Mom will get a sniff of our plans to sneak out and go to the party.

have a (good) sniff around

To investigate or examine a place or area to look for something or gather information. Please tell me that the cops won't find any incriminating evidence if they have a sniff around your office. I had a good sniff around outside, but I didn't see your watch anywhere. I had a good sniff around the senator's campaign records and discovered a vast conspiracy of fraud and embezzlement!

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.

not get a sniff of (something)

1. To not get even the smallest inclination or amount of information about something. Make sure you don't let the boss get a sniff of what you're trying to do, or you'll get fired so fast your head will spin! A: "Detective Matheson, have you gotten any leads about this supposed drug deal going down tomorrow night?" B: "No, sir, I haven't gotten a sniff of anything happening tomorrow."

2. To not get even the smallest portion or sample of something desirable. Health insurance, a company phone, and a pension plan? Man, I didn't get a sniff of benefits like those when I was working for that company. He didn't patent the design, so when it went on to make millions of dollars, he didn't get a sniff of that money.

not to be sneezed at

To not be something that should be ignored, passed over, dismissed, or treated with disdain; to not be trivial or inconsequential. We may not have won the game, but we scored enough points and caused enough damage to let everyone know we aren't to be sneezed at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to win in a lottery, but it's still not to be sneezed at!

See also: not, sneeze, to

not to be sniffed at

To not be something that should be ignored, passed over, dismissed, or treated with disdain; to not be trivial or inconsequential. We may not have won the game, but we scored enough points and caused enough damage to let everyone know we aren't to be sniffed at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to win in a lottery, but it's still not to be sniffed at!

nothing to be sniffed at

Not something that should be ignored, dismissed, or treated with disdain; something that is not inconsequential. The amount of votes she managed to muster is nothing to be sniffed at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to have won, but it's definitely nothing to be sniffed at!

nothing to sniff at

Not something that should be ignored, dismissed, or treated with disdain; something that is not inconsequential. The amount of votes she managed to muster is nothing to sniff at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to have won, but it's definitely nothing to sniff at!

sniff about (something or some place)

See also: sniff

sniff around

To investigate, search through, or inquire impertinently into something or some place. Please tell me that the cops won't find any incriminating evidence if they start sniffing around your office. Sarah's been sniffing around, lately—I think she's starting to suspect me. I started sniffing around the senator's campaign records and discovered a vast conspiracy of fraud and embezzlement.

sniff at (someone or something).

To dismiss or belittle someone or something as being not worthwhile, important, or valuable. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to win, but it's definitely nothing to sniff at! The CEO just sniffed at the deal presented by the rival corporation.

See also: sniff

sniff out

1. Literally, to locate someone or something using one's sense of smell. Almost exclusively said of dogs. A noun or pronoun can be used between "sniff" and "out." We've sent a pack of dogs to sniff the fugitive out. The police use specially trained dogs to sniff out drugs and bombs.

2. By extension, to uncover, reveal, or expose someone or something through some form of investigation. A noun or pronoun can be used between "sniff" and "out." If the company is up to anything fishy, the auditor will sniff it out. Our lead investigative journalist sniffed out the politician leaking information to foreign intelligence agents.

See also: out, sniff

sniff test

1. The act of questioning the viability of an idea or course of action. Josh thinks he has a solid plan, but it doesn't pass the sniff test for me—I don't see how it will be profitable.

2. In medicine, a test of the phrenic nerve in which the patient must sniff forcefully. Next, we're going to do a sniff test so that I can see exactly how your phrenic nerve is functioning.

3. In medicine, a way to recognize bacterial vaginosis (which presents with a fishlike odor). I've only done a sniff test so far, but I think that patient has bacterial vaginosis.

4. The act of smelling something to determine whether or not it has a fresh odor. These leftovers pass the sniff test, so I'll heat them up for lunch. You can't wear that shirt again without washing it—it definitely doesn't pass the sniff test!

sniff at someone or something

1. Lit. to try to get the smell of someone or something by smelling. The dog sniffed at the visitor. The cat sniffed at almost every inch of the rug that the dog had walked on.

2. Fig. to show one's disapproval of someone or something by sniffing. (Sometimes this is figurative, the "sniffing" being expressed by tone of voice or gesture.) I made one suggestion, but Claire just sniffed at me. Gale just sniffed at the idea and would say nothing.

See also: sniff

sniff someone or something out

to locate someone or something by sniffing or as if by sniffing. The dog sniffed the intruder out and the police captured him. The dog sniffed out the mole in the lawn.

See also: out, sniff

not to be sneezed at

Also, nothing to sneeze at. Not to be ignored or dismissed, as in It's a great honor, not to be sneezed at, or That salary of his is nothing to sneeze at. This expression presumably alludes to turning up one's nose in disdain. [c. 1800]

See also: not, sneeze, to

sniff out

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]

See also: out, sniff

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

not to be sneezed at

not to be sniffed at

INFORMAL

If something is not to be sneezed at or not to be sniffed at, it is worth having. The money's not to be sneezed at. At least she had somewhere to live and a job — both temporary, but not to be sniffed at.

See also: not, sneeze, to

not to be sneezed at

not to be rejected without careful consideration; worth having or taking into account. informal

See also: not, sneeze, to

not to be ˈsneezed/ˈsniffed at

(informal) important or worth having: If I were you, I’d take the job. A salary like that’s not to be sneezed at.

have a (good) ˌsniff aˈround

examine a place carefully: Come and visit our website and have a sniff around!

This refers to the way that a dog sniffs (= smells) something in order to find out more about it.

not get a ˈsniff of something

(informal) not succeed in obtaining something: I worked in Hollywood for years, but I never got a sniff of the big money.

See also: get, not, of, sniff, something

sniff around

To pry; snoop: The reporters came sniffing around for more details. The detectives sniffed around the basement for clues. The guard caught them sniffing around in the room where the files are kept.

sniff at

1. To use the sense of smell to investigate something: I sniffed at the jar to see what it held.

2. To regard someone or something in a contemptuous or dismissive manner: The critics sniffed at the film, even though it was very popular. The amount of funds we've managed to raise in a week is nothing to sniff at.

See also: sniff

sniff out

To perceive or detect someone or something by or as if by sniffing: The dogs sniffed out the trail through the snow. The detectives sniffed the plot out and arrested the criminals.

See also: out, sniff

sniff

n. a drink of liquor. (see also snort.) I’d like just a sniff of that Scotch.

not to be sneezed at

Not to be dismissed. This term, which presumably comes from turning up one’s nose at something to express contempt, was already current in the early nineteenth century. “As I am situated, £300 or £400 a year is not to be sneezed at” (Sir Walter Scott, letter, 1813).

See also: not, sneeze, to

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