English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Smell something fishy
Meaning
The idiom "smell something fishy" is used to describe a situation that seems suspicious or untrustworthy. It implies that there may be hidden motives, deceitful behavior, or other underlying issues that need to be investigated further. The phrase has its origins in the idea of detecting fish odor on a person or object, which can indicate that they are hiding something.
Usage
- I had a bad feeling about this deal from the start, but when I started investigating and "smelled something fishy," I knew I had to back out.
- When my friend accused me of stealing his money, I felt like he was trying to "smell something fishy" and cover up his own mistakes.
- The government's sudden announcement of new regulations seemed suspicious to many people, who started to "smell something fishy" behind the scenes.
- After hearing rumors about her husband's infidelity, Sarah decided to "smell something fishy" and investigate further.
- My boss has been acting strangely lately, but I don't know what to make of it until I start "smelling something fishy."
Roots and History
The idiom has its origins in the idea of detecting fish odor on a person or object, which can indicate that they are hiding something. Over time, the phrase evolved into a figurative way of expressing suspicion or mistrust in a situation or person. The phrase was first used in English in the 17th century and has since become a common idiom in many languages around the world.
Synonyms in English
- "Sense something is amiss"
- "Have a bad feeling about this"
- "Something doesn't feel right"
- "There's something off about this"
- "I have a hunch something is wrong"
Synonyms in other languages
- Spanish - "Hay algo raro aquí" (There's something strange here)
- French - "Il y a quelque chose qui ne va pas" (There's something that doesn't feel right)
- German - "Es ist etwas verdächtig" (There's something suspicious)
- Italian - "Ci sono qualche cosa che non riscuota" (Something doesn't add up)
- Portuguese - "Há algo estranho aqui" (There's something strange here)