sniff something ↔ out phrasal verb (see also sniff)

1. to discover or find something by its smell:
A customs officer came round with a dog to sniff out drugs.

2. informal to find out or discover something:
Vic’s been trying to sniff out where you went last night.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

sniff out
sniff out (someone/something)
to discover someone or something, usually only after a special effort.
Part of their job is to sniff out talented new writers.

The FBI knew they had a double agent in their midst, but it took years to sniff him out.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

sniff out something
sniff out (someone/something)
to discover someone or something, usually only after a special effort.
Part of their job is to sniff out talented new writers.

The FBI knew they had a double agent in their midst, but it took years to sniff him out.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

sniff out
• sniff out (someone or something)
to locate someone or something
The police dog worked hard to sniff out the bank robber.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

sniff out something
• sniff out (someone or something)
to locate someone or something
The police dog worked hard to sniff out the bank robber.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

sniff out
See: FERRET OUT.
{v.} To hunt or drive from hiding; to bring out into the open; search for and find.
John ferreted out the answer to the question in the library.

Jane smelled out the boys' secret hiding place in the woods.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

sniff out someone
sniff out (someone/something)
to discover someone or something, usually only after a special effort.
Part of their job is to sniff out talented new writers.

The FBI knew they had a double agent in their midst, but it took years to sniff him out.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

sniff out someone
• sniff out (someone or something)
to locate someone or something
The police dog worked hard to sniff out the bank robber.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲