What does the idiom to smell a rat mean?

smell a rat. Suspect something is wrong, especially a betrayal of some kind. For example, When I didn't hear any more from my prospective employer, I began to smell a rat. This expression alludes to a cat sniffing out a rat. [

What does to smell a rat mean?

to recognize that something is not as it appears to be or that something dishonest is happening: He's been working late with her every night this week - I smell a rat!

What is the meaning of the idiom to smell a rat Mcq?

'To smell a rat' is a phrase which means to suspect that something is wrong in a particular situation. E.g. Investigators were called in for the murder case and soon smelt a rat. Thus, option C is the correct answer.

Where does the phrase I smell a rat come from?

The idiom smell a rat dates back to one of the oldest methods of controlling the rat population–a cat. The idiom to smell a rat is a reference to a cat's sense of smell. The earliest uses of this phrase involves not only a rat, but a cat.

What is the meaning of the idiom a rat?

To smell a rat is to suspect that something is wrong, or that someone is trying to deceive you. 'John said that he didn't eat my noodles in the fridge, but I began to smell a rat when I saw the empty plate in his room.

Idiom: To smell a rat

What is the meaning of the idiom a snake in the grass?

Definition of snake in the grass

: a secretly faithless friend.

Is rat out an idiom?

Verb. (slang, derogatory, transitive) To inform authorities (about someone); to tell on (somebody). Don't you dare rat me out or I'll kill you!

What is the sentence of smell a rat?

His wife smelt a rat when he suddenly started working late for the past few weeks. I don't think these files were deleted by mistake. I smell a rat. Maybe he has something to do with it.

Who said I smell a rat?

He was a determined anti-federalist who believed in the rights of individual states, and the fact that the Constitutional Convention was being held in secret made him angry. Highly suspicious of the close-lipped proceedings, Patrick Henry proclaimed his distrust with the now-famous line, “I smell a rat!”

Did someone smell a rat?

I Smell a Rat Meaning

Definition: Something is suspicious. Someone will use this phrase when he or she thinks something is not quite right in a situation. Usually, the person doesn't know what is wrong exactly.

What is the meaning of the idiom dark horse?

a person who is not expected to succeed in or unexpectedly wins an election, race, or other competition: a dark horse in the primaries.

What does the idiom black sheep mean?

Definition of black sheep

: a disfavored or disreputable member of a group.

What is the meaning of the idiom a man of straw?

man of straw. noun. a person of little substance. Also called: straw man mainly US a person used as a cover for some dubious plan or enterprise; front man. a man who cannot be relied upon to honour his financial commitments, esp because of his limited resources.

What does the idiom bring home the bacon mean?

Definition of bring home the bacon

informal. : to earn the money that is needed to live He worked hard all week to bring home the bacon for his family.

What is the meaning of the idiom on its last legs?

Extremely tired, close to collapsing, as in We've been cleaning house all day and I'm on my last legs. This hyperbolic expression originally meant “close to dying,” and in John Ray's 1678 proverb collection it was transferred to being bankrupt.

What does the idiom get the last laugh mean?

Definition of have/get the last laugh

: to succeed or win after being laughed at or doubted by others.

Why did Patrick Henry smell a rat in Philadelphia?

Why did Patrick Henry remark that he “smelt a rat” when he learned of plans to hold a convention in Philadelphia in May 1787? Patrick Henry said that he “smelt a rat” because he was nervous that the new Articles would threaten the citizens' liberty.

How do you find a rat?

What is the meaning of the idiom in black and white?

Definition of in black and white

1 : in written or printed form I want to see it in black and white. 2 : in a way that involves a simple choice between two opposite things (such as good and bad or right and wrong) She sees everything in black and white.

How do you use a hot potato idiom?

It is a hot potato at the moment, and is causing a great deal of concern to many people. He seems to have landed himself with something of a hot potato today. We all know what a politically hot potato education is. The problem has come back again, and it is a kind of hot potato.

What is the meaning of the idiom to be above board?

: in a straightforward manner : openly.

What does get ya rat out mean?

to reveal incriminating or embarrassing information about someone. The news reporter ratted out the people who were involved with the scandal.

What does the saying rats and mice mean?

These phrasal verbs mean – to tell somebody in authority about something wrong that somebody else has done.

What is water down?

Definition of water down

transitive verb. : to reduce or temper the force or effectiveness of watered down the plan.

What means lion's share?

Definition of lion's share

: the largest portion received the lion's share of the research money.