{"id":8444,"date":"2023-08-18T04:40:26","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T04:40:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/explore\/?p=8444"},"modified":"2023-08-18T04:40:26","modified_gmt":"2023-08-18T04:40:26","slug":"smell-a-rat-idiom-meaning-with-example","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/explore\/idioms\/smell-a-rat-idiom-meaning-with-example\/","title":{"rendered":"Smell a Rat Idiom Meaning, Synonyms, Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The \u201csmell a rat\u201d idiom refers to suspecting someone or something is wrong, particularly when that last piece of chocolate cake suddenly goes missing from the fridge! Generally, it implies the presence of an untrustworthy person in a group of people, especially if they are lying or cheating. The phrase comes from the idea of a cat being able to sense the presence of a rat by its smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usage With Examples<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The \u201csmell a rat\u201d idiom can be used in various contexts and situations. For example, if you receive an email asking for your personal information, you might smell a rat and think it is a scam. Here are some other examples of using the idiom correctly in a sentence:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. When the police found the missing jewels in his car, they smelled a rat<\/strong> and arrested him for theft.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. She smelled a rat <\/strong>when he said he was working late every night, so she hired a private investigator to follow him.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. He smelled a rat<\/strong> when he saw the strange charges on his credit card statement and realized that someone had hacked his account.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Also Read: <\/strong>500+ Most Commonly Used Idioms in English<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Synonyms and Similar Phrases<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are other words and phrases that have the same meaning as the \u201csmell a rat\u201d idiom. They are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Sense something fishy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Have a hunch<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Doubt<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Suspect<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Disbelieve<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Mistrust<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. Misbelieve<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8. Be wary of<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    9. Wonder about<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    10. Question<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \n