sniff around

verb

Investigate; inspect; look for information.

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Meanings

verbsniff around (third-person singular simple present sniffs around, present participle sniffing around, simple past and past participle sniffed around)

present singular third person sniffs around · participle present sniffing around · participle past sniffed around · past sniffed around

  1. Investigate; inspect; look for information.
    1 more example

    If he moved a muscle, they would both be in DEEP TROUBLE. “It must have been a bird, Mr Big,” said Dad. “Ruddy big bird,” muttered the little man. “Now we have to get out of here before the fuzz start sniffing around. Fingers, get the Rolls resprayed and change the number plates in case they trace it.” “Yes, guv’nor.”

    2017, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Bad Dad, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN
Cite this entry
APA

sniff around. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sniff%20around

MLA

“sniff around.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sniff%20around. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sniff around,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sniff%20around.

Source: sniff around on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.