smell to high heaven

smell to high heaven

1. To have a very strong unpleasant scent. Can you take this trash out? It smells to high heaven. Ugh, something in this refrigerator smells to high heaven!

2. To be or seem extremely disreputable, suspicious, or corrupt. This deal between the company and the mayor's office smells to high heaven, if you ask me. This town smelled to high heaven before I came in and brought some law and order to it.

See also: heaven, high, smell

smell/stink to high ˈheaven

(informal)
1 have a very strong and unpleasant smell: When was the last time you cleaned the dog kennel? It stinks to high heaven.
2 seem to be very dishonest or morally unacceptable: This whole deal stinks to high heaven. I’m sure somebody was bribed.

See also: heaven, high, smell, stink

smell to (high) heaven

1. in. to smell very bad. This kitchen smells to high heaven. What besides garlic are you cooking?

2. in. to give signals that cause suspicion. Something’s wrong here. Somebody blabbed. This setup smells to high heaven.

See also: heaven, high, smell