smell like a tart's handbag

verb

To smell strongly of perfume.

Similar
smell like a tart's boudoirsmell like a tart's bedroomsmell like a tart's handkerchief
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Meanings

verbsmell like a tart's handbag (third-person singular simple present smells like a tart's handbag, present participle smelling like a tart's handbag, simple past and past participle smelt like a tart's handbag or smelled like a tart's handbag)

present singular third person smells like a tart's handbag · participle present smelling like a tart's handbag · participle past smelt like a tart's handbag · past smelt like a tart's handbag · participle past smelled like a tart's handbag · past smelled like a tart's handbag

  1. UKderogatoryidiomaticslangsimileTo smell strongly of perfume.

    "Phew," he said, following her into the room. "It smells like a tart's handbag in here."

    2004, Carole Matthews, The Scent of Scandal, page 12

    Synonyms: smell like a tart's boudoir, smell like a tart's bedroom, smell like a tart's handkerchief

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo smell strongly of perfume.

Similar
smell like a tart's boudoirsmell like a tart's bedroomsmell like a tart's handkerchief
Also see
smell like a tart's bedroomsmell like a tart's boudoirsmell like a tart's handkerchief
Cite this entry
APA

smell like a tart's handbag. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/smell%20like%20a%20tart's%20handbag

MLA

“smell like a tart's handbag.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/smell%20like%20a%20tart's%20handbag. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “smell like a tart's handbag,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/smell%20like%20a%20tart's%20handbag.

Source: smell like a tart's handbag on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.