Sniff
verb
To breathe in air through the nose to detect a smell.
The dog sniffed the ground, searching for the scent of its owner.
Often appears as...
- sniff the air
- sniff around
verb
To express contempt or disapproval.
She sniffed at my suggestion, clearly thinking it was a bad one.
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To sob or cry with short quick breaths.
He sniffed miserably, trying to hold back his tears.
Often appears as...
- sniff back tears
- sniff in sadness
noun
An act or sound of drawing air through the nose.
I took a sniff of the fragrant flowers.
Often appears as...
- take a sniff
- quick sniff
verb
To sniff a substance up the nose.
He sniffed the powder up his nose.
Often appears as...
- sniff a powder
- sniff a substance
verb
To breathe in air through the nose to detect a smell.
The dog sniffed the ground, searching for the scent of its owner.
Often appears as...
- sniff the air
- sniff around
verb
To express contempt or disapproval.
She sniffed at my suggestion, clearly thinking it was a bad one.
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To sob or cry with short quick breaths.
He sniffed miserably, trying to hold back his tears.
Often appears as...
- sniff back tears
- sniff in sadness
noun
An act or sound of drawing air through the nose.
I took a sniff of the fragrant flowers.
Often appears as...
- take a sniff
- quick sniff
verb
To sniff a substance up the nose.
He sniffed the powder up his nose.
Often appears as...
- sniff a powder
- sniff a substance
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Animals Investigate
Animals often 'sniff' to explore their environment or track scents.
A bear sniffed the air, catching the smell of food.
Pro Tip 2/3Sensory Experience
'Sniff' indicates voluntary smelling, commonly to assess an odour.
She sniffed the perfume on her wrist.
Pro Tip 3/3Subtle Suspicion
Metaphorically used to describe someone becoming subtly aware of something.
He sniffed trouble brewing at the meeting.
Pro Tip 1/3Animals Investigate
Animals often 'sniff' to explore their environment or track scents.
A bear sniffed the air, catching the smell of food.
Pro Tip 2/3Sensory Experience
'Sniff' indicates voluntary smelling, commonly to assess an odour.
She sniffed the perfume on her wrist.
Pro Tip 3/3Subtle Suspicion
Metaphorically used to describe someone becoming subtly aware of something.
He sniffed trouble brewing at the meeting.
Pro Tip 1/3Animals Investigate
Animals often 'sniff' to explore their environment or track scents.
A bear sniffed the air, catching the smell of food.
Pro Tip 2/3Sensory Experience
'Sniff' indicates voluntary smelling, commonly to assess an odour.
She sniffed the perfume on her wrist.
Pro Tip 3/3Subtle Suspicion
Metaphorically used to describe someone becoming subtly aware of something.
He sniffed trouble brewing at the meeting.
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Video examples
How do dogs "see" with...
The ability to smell separately with each nostril, smelling in stereo, helps to determine the direction of the smell's source so that within the first few moments of sniffing, the dog starts to become aware of not just what kind of things are out there but also where they're located.
Video examples
Strange answers to the...
about how the U.S. Army was training bumblebees to sniff out explosives. So I said to a nurse, 'Did you know that the U.S. Army is training bumblebees to sniff out explosives?' When I read my medical notes, I saw they'd 'Believes bees can sniff out explosives.'"
Video examples
A Spoon You Can Eat Is a...
spoon I grabbed it from his hand I run my thumb on it it was greasy I took a smiie a sniff of it it was already smelling of somewhere it's been reused you know plastic has got so many chemical complexes in it phthalates chill aids bisphenol this cause cancer
Video examples
How to master your sense...
Follow these steps and you too can change the way the world smells to you. First, stick your nose in it. Some animals that are known to be great smellers, like dogs who can sniff out explosives and pigs who can find truffles underground,
Video examples
Creating a Bio-Industrial...
I was skiing friend of mine I had my long skinny skis on we were in the backcountry and I left a perfectly good trail do not do this this is not recommended the reason I did it was I wanted to sniff a ponderosa pine because
Video examples
The Life of a Baby Polar...
So if this mother wants her only cub to survive, she'll need to ensure it masters the important game, of recognizing which smells to trust, and which ones to run away from. See her taking big sniffs into the air,
Video examples
Are Badgers the Cleanest...
below ground their world is one of total darkness although we can see them they must rely on touch and smell grooming and sniffing helps them identify each other and binds the group together
Video examples
How High Can Tigers Live...
here and could help secure their future gordon's camera traps are the team's last hope oh look at this beer oh sniffing the camera the camera traps aren't always invisible
Video examples
Cheetah Cubs Master...
sniffing the air checking out every every thicket savannah weaves through the landscape this could be the cub's opportunity to observe a hunting master class
Video examples
A Collection Of Wild...
mammals are often buried beneath it's thought wolverines can sniff out frozen carcasses even deep beneath the snow to test this out helen buries some
Video examples
How do dogs "see" with...
The ability to smell separately with each nostril, smelling in stereo, helps to determine the direction of the smell's source so that within the first few moments of sniffing, the dog starts to become aware of not just what kind of things are out there but also where they're located.
Video examples
Strange answers to the...
about how the U.S. Army was training bumblebees to sniff out explosives. So I said to a nurse, 'Did you know that the U.S. Army is training bumblebees to sniff out explosives?' When I read my medical notes, I saw they'd 'Believes bees can sniff out explosives.'"
Video examples
A Spoon You Can Eat Is a...
spoon I grabbed it from his hand I run my thumb on it it was greasy I took a smiie a sniff of it it was already smelling of somewhere it's been reused you know plastic has got so many chemical complexes in it phthalates chill aids bisphenol this cause cancer
Video examples
How to master your sense...
Follow these steps and you too can change the way the world smells to you. First, stick your nose in it. Some animals that are known to be great smellers, like dogs who can sniff out explosives and pigs who can find truffles underground,
Video examples
Creating a Bio-Industrial...
I was skiing friend of mine I had my long skinny skis on we were in the backcountry and I left a perfectly good trail do not do this this is not recommended the reason I did it was I wanted to sniff a ponderosa pine because
Video examples
The Life of a Baby Polar...
So if this mother wants her only cub to survive, she'll need to ensure it masters the important game, of recognizing which smells to trust, and which ones to run away from. See her taking big sniffs into the air,
Video examples
Are Badgers the Cleanest...
below ground their world is one of total darkness although we can see them they must rely on touch and smell grooming and sniffing helps them identify each other and binds the group together
Video examples
How High Can Tigers Live...
here and could help secure their future gordon's camera traps are the team's last hope oh look at this beer oh sniffing the camera the camera traps aren't always invisible
Video examples
Cheetah Cubs Master...
sniffing the air checking out every every thicket savannah weaves through the landscape this could be the cub's opportunity to observe a hunting master class
Video examples
A Collection Of Wild...
mammals are often buried beneath it's thought wolverines can sniff out frozen carcasses even deep beneath the snow to test this out helen buries some
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Kathy Burke
English Actress
Not having a mum was my thing. It came with a sort of fame. Other kids couldn't get their head around that. But looking back now, I'm quite proud about how I managed myself. I didn't end up sniffing glue or running away. I just got on with things.
Quote examples
Orlando Jones
American Comedian
That was one of the things that interested me about the character. He doesn't want to be a hero, and has no real desire to save the earth or discover aliens. He's sniffing around looking to see what will fall in his lap.
Quote examples
Peter Crouch
English Athlete
When some kids get a sniff of the first team at a big club, you see them change. They can become big-time, especially so if they happen to be captain of the youth team.
Quote examples
James Caan
American Actor
Some guys say beauty is only skin deep. But when you walk into a party, you don't see somebody's brain. The initial contact has to be the sniffing.
Quote examples
Patrick Marber
English Writer
It's one of the reasons I don't do drugs. One sniff and I'd go all the way.
Quote examples
Jeff Kinney
American Writer
Kids can sniff out a moral. They can feel the heavy hand of an adult.
Quote examples
Maddie Marlow
American Musician
Country fans can sniff out phony from a mile away.
Quote examples
Eugene Ionesco
French Dramatist
A nose that can see is worth two that sniff.
Quote examples
Jennifer Coolidge
American Actress
I have been able to sniff out a phony.
Quote examples
Siegfried Sassoon
English Poet
In me the tiger sniffs the rose.
Quote examples
Kathy Burke
English Actress
Not having a mum was my thing. It came with a sort of fame. Other kids couldn't get their head around that. But looking back now, I'm quite proud about how I managed myself. I didn't end up sniffing glue or running away. I just got on with things.
Quote examples
Orlando Jones
American Comedian
That was one of the things that interested me about the character. He doesn't want to be a hero, and has no real desire to save the earth or discover aliens. He's sniffing around looking to see what will fall in his lap.
Quote examples
Peter Crouch
English Athlete
When some kids get a sniff of the first team at a big club, you see them change. They can become big-time, especially so if they happen to be captain of the youth team.
Quote examples
James Caan
American Actor
Some guys say beauty is only skin deep. But when you walk into a party, you don't see somebody's brain. The initial contact has to be the sniffing.
Quote examples
Patrick Marber
English Writer
It's one of the reasons I don't do drugs. One sniff and I'd go all the way.
Quote examples
Jeff Kinney
American Writer
Kids can sniff out a moral. They can feel the heavy hand of an adult.
Quote examples
Maddie Marlow
American Musician
Country fans can sniff out phony from a mile away.
Quote examples
Eugene Ionesco
French Dramatist
A nose that can see is worth two that sniff.
Quote examples
Jennifer Coolidge
American Actress
I have been able to sniff out a phony.
Quote examples
Siegfried Sassoon
English Poet
In me the tiger sniffs the rose.
Example 1 of 10
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