stink like a mackerel

present singular third person stinks like a mackerel · participle present stinking like a mackerel · past stank like a mackerel · participle past stunk like a mackerel

1. simileTo reek; to smell terrible.
2. figurativelysimileTo smell fishy, to stink to high heaven (to look extremely suspicious or unconvincing).

   That argument stinks like a mackerel in the moonlight!

   2010, David Crump, The Holding Company

   5 more examples

   In summary, I think that the waterfront situation "stinks like a mackerel in the hot sunlight."

   1965, Fleet Owner - Volume 60, page 8

   In spite of the pipe he drew on so often that he seemed forever wrapped in a cloud of acrid blue smoke, Murphy stank like a mackerel.

   1977, Bartholomew Gill, McGarr and the politician's wife: a mystery novel, page 57

   Well, then it talks about Senator Durbin and Senator Susan Collins exposing the tax credit, as they termed, that "shines and stinks like a mackerel in the moonlight," to quote Time magazine, which would have offset industry costs and a now-ill-fated tobacco deal had brought it to the light of day.

   1998, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs, Investigation of illegal or improper activities in connection with the 1996 federal election campaign

   lf some goof thought he was doing it on my behalf, the murder'll stink like a mackerel in the sunshine and screw up our lives forever.

   2006, John Sandford, Dead watch, page 149

   Because de Braose's name stinks like a mackerel in the sun; I'd have thought the foul smell sure to've reached even as far as Normandy.

   2012, Sharon Penman, Here Be Dragons

   Synonyms: stink like a mackerel in the moonlight, stink like a mackerel in the sun