1 B1 neutral
(Literal) Of an animal, especially a dog: to locate something by following its smell.
"The sniffer dog sniffed out a hidden compartment full of cash at the border crossing."
separable
sniff out
B2 informal separable transitive
To discover or detect something hidden, using skill, instinct, or investigation.
In plain English
To find something that was hidden or secret, usually because you are good at looking for it.
What does "sniff out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To discover something hidden or secret through investigation or sharp instinct.
"The journalist sniffed out a financial scandal that the company had been hiding for years."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To detect danger, deception, or a problem before it becomes obvious.
"Experienced traders can often sniff out a bad deal before they've even read the figures."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To use the nose to detect a scent and follow it outward to its source — transparent for the literal sense.
Actually means
To find something that was hidden or secret, usually because you are good at looking for it.
Usage tip
Both literal (dogs sniffing out drugs) and figurative (a journalist sniffing out a scandal). The figurative use is very common. Often implies that the finder has a special talent or instinct for detection.
Words that pair with "sniff out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
drugs danger scandal corruption bargain trouble
How to conjugate "sniff out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sniff out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sniffs out
he/she/it
Past simple
sniffed out
yesterday
Past participle
sniffed out
have + pp
-ing form
sniffing out
continuous
Hear "sniff out" in the wild
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Other ways to say "sniff out"
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