smell a rat
Detect something fishy
To smell a rat is to sense that something is wrong or suspect deception, even without proof: I started to smell a rat when he kept changing his story.
The image suggests detecting hidden corruption the way one might detect a dead rodent by its odor before seeing it.
- fishyArousing doubt, colloquially
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- sneaking suspicionVague persistent doubt
- mistrustLack of faith
- trust your gutRely on intuition
gut feeling · suspect · question · doubt · alarm bells · underhanded · up to no good · foul play · sixth sense · duplicity · double dealing · sneak · red flag · hunch · bad vibes · on the nose · subterfuge · dubious
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- catch oncatch on, figure out, realize, understand, cotton on
- cautioncareful, be careful, cautious, caution, watch out
- gut feelingsgut feeling, gut instinct, gut reaction, hunch, instinct
smell a rattake at face value
Accept without deeper analysis
buy it · fall for it · take the bait · have faith in · take someone's word for it
smell a ratlet one's guard down
Cease being defensive
drop one's guard · turn a blind eye · bury one's head in the sand · look the other way