“Smell a rat”

Definition

To suspect that something is wrong or dishonest.

Examples

Examples

“I smelled a rat when the price was too low.”

Sunny Speaking
Practice speaking with AI feedback.
Answer out loud or type — Sunny corrects your mistakes and suggests more natural English.
Start speaking

Related Idioms

Explore similar idioms and phrases. Click any card to read the full meaning and examples.

Frequently asked questions

What does "Smell a rat" mean?
"Smell a rat" means to suspect that something is wrong or dishonest..
How do you use "Smell a rat" in a sentence?
Example: "I smelled a rat when the price was too low."
What is the Russian or Armenian translation of "Smell a rat"?
Заподозрить, что что-то не так или нечестно. / Կասկածել, որ ինչ-որ բան սխալ կամ անազնիվ է։
Is this idiom formal or informal?
This idiom is neutral and can be used in most contexts.

Related lessons

Dive deeper with another lesson that reinforces this grammar point.

Keep learning