Smell a Rat.
English
idiom
Suspect dishonesty or fraud.
Trusted by1.5M+English learners & teachers worldwide
Suspect dishonesty or fraud.
Trusted by1.5M+English learners & teachers worldwide
To sense that something dishonest or suspicious is happening.
When you smell a rat, your instincts are telling you something isn't right — even if you can't prove it yet.
It's used when a situation or person feels deceptive and you begin to suspect foul play.
"Raise a Red Flag"
—
To signal that something is potentially problematic or concerning
"Have a Bad Feeling"
—
A general sense of unease about a situation, without suspecting deception specifically
"Smell a Rat"
—
Sensing through instinct that someone is being dishonest or deceptive
Something about this contractor feels off — the quote is half the market rate.
I smell a rat too — let's check their references carefully before signing anything.
He said he was home all night but posted photos from a restaurant.
I smell a rat — that doesn't add up at all.
This investment opportunity sounds absolutely perfect — should I go for it?
Too perfect — I smell a rat. Let's do some research first.
