sniff at something phrasal verb (see also sniff)

1. something is not to be sniffed at especially British English spoken used to say that something is good enough to be accepted or considered seriously:
An 8% salary increase is not to be sniffed at.

2. to refuse something in a proud way, or behave as if something is not good enough for you:
He sniffed at my choice of restaurants and suggested his own favorite.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲