smell test
Quick legitimacy assessment
A smell test is an informal assessment of whether something seems legitimate, ethical, or reasonable.
The metaphor comes from sniffing food to check if it's spoiled.
Something that doesn't pass the smell test raises suspicions even if you can't pinpoint why: The deal looked good on paper, but it failed the smell test.
Lack of firm belief
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- warinessCautious distrust
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
questioning · critical eye · side-eye · raised eyebrow · second look · too good to be true · fishy · dubious
Instinctive sense about something
- hunchUnproven inner sense
- instinctInnate behavioral tendency
- sixth senseExtrasensory perception ability
- first impressionInstant assessment of someone
snap judgment · initial reaction · suspicion · inkling · feeling · vibe · sense · red flag
Quality of being sound
- legitimacyLawful or rightful status
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- proofDemonstration of truth
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
confirmation · fact-check · vetting · due diligence · background check · sanity check · reality check · cross-reference
doubt
Lack of firm belief
scrutiny · questioning · critical eye · side-eye · raised eyebrow · second look · too good to be true · fishy · dubious · questionable
gut feeling
Instinctive sense about something
- hunchUnproven inner sense
- instinctInnate behavioral tendency
- sixth senseExtrasensory perception ability
first impression · snap judgment · initial reaction · suspicion · inkling · feeling · vibe · sense · red flag · warning sign
validity
Quality of being sound
- legitimacyLawful or rightful status
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- proofDemonstration of truth
evidence · confirmation · fact-check · vetting · due diligence · background check · sanity check · reality check · cross-reference · quality control
- sensory testseye exam, audiometry, audiogram, hearing threshold, depth perception
- smell testsscratch and sniff
- smellodor, reek, aroma, sniff, stink
- suspiciondistrust, suspicion, mistrust, suspiciousness, doubt
- mineralogycalcite, quartz, feldspar, mica, olivine
- Chemical Teststitration, colorimetry, gravimetry, TLC, chromatography
smell testdue diligence
Pre-transaction reasonable care
peer review · deep dive · proof · fact-check · forensic audit
smell testempirical evidence
Proof from measurable observation
metrics · benchmarking · standardized testing · controlled experiment · mathematical proof
smell testscientific method
Structured process for investigation
statistical analysis · logical proof · controlled experiment · clinical trial · hard evidence
test, smell, scent, smelling, smells, smelled, smeller, smellers