smell out

present singular third person smells out · participle present smelling out · participle past smelled out · past smelled out · participle past smelt out · past smelt out

1. transitiveTo find or locate by smell.
2. figurativelytransitiveTo find out by prying.

   I can smell out dishonesty from a mile away.

   1 more example

   for a Cut-purse; a good Nose is requisite also, to smell out worke for th' other Sences.

   c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]