sniff around

sniff around
(in BRIT, also use sniff about, sniff round)
1) PHRASAL VERB If a person is sniffing around, they are trying to find out information about something, especially information that someone else does not want known. [INFORMAL]

[V P] But really, what harm could it possibly do to pop down there and just sniff around?...

[V P n] They might have sent a couple of plain-clothes men to sniff round his apartment while the doctors patched him up.

Syn:
2) PHRASAL VERB: no passive If a person or organization is sniffing around someone, they are trying to get them, for example as a lover, employee, or client. [INFORMAL]

[V P n] When I had to go away to university, I was convinced that other men would be sniffing round her...

[V P n] Rioch knows the big clubs have been sniffing around Andy Walker.


English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • sniff around — phrasal verb sniff around or sniff round [intransitive/transitive] Word forms sniff around : present tense I/you/we/they sniff around he/she/it sniffs around present participle sniffing around past tense sniffed around past participle sniffed… …   English dictionary

  • sniff around/round — [phrasal verb] sniff around/round (someone) Brit, informal : to try to get (someone) as a romantic partner, employee, etc. His engagement hasn t stopped him from sniffing around other girls. Rival companies have been sniffing around her for years …   Useful english dictionary

  • sniff around somebody — ˈsniff around/round sb derived no passive (especially BrE) to try to get sb as a lover, employee, etc • Hollywood agents have been sniffing around him. Main entry: ↑sniffderived …   Useful english dictionary

  • sniff around/round — informal investigate something covertly. → sniff …   English new terms dictionary

  • sniff around — …   Useful english dictionary

  • sniff — ► VERB 1) draw in air audibly through the nose. 2) (sniff at) show contempt or dislike for: the price is not to be sniffed at. 3) (sniff around/round) informal investigate something secretly. 4) (sniff out) informal discover by secret or hidden… …   English terms dictionary

  • sniff round somebody — ˈsniff around/round sb derived no passive (especially BrE) to try to get sb as a lover, employee, etc • Hollywood agents have been sniffing around him. Main entry: ↑sniffderived …   Useful english dictionary

  • have a (good) sniff around — have a (good) ˌsniff aˈround idiom to examine a place carefully Main entry: ↑sniffidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • sniff round — phrasal verb sniff around or sniff round [intransitive/transitive] Word forms sniff around : present tense I/you/we/they sniff around he/she/it sniffs around present participle sniffing around past tense sniffed around past participle sniffed… …   English dictionary

  • sniff — sniff1 [ snıf ] verb * 1. ) intransitive or transitive to breathe in noisily through your nose, for example because you have been crying: Amanda sniffed and wiped her nose. It wasn t my fault! he sniffed. a ) to smell something: sniff at: Henry… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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