whiffing

Failing to connect

Whiffing is swinging and missing, especially in baseball where a batter whiffs at a pitch.

The image extends to any failed attempt to connect or succeed: He kept whiffing on job interviews.

Whiffing also means sniffing or catching a scent: I was whiffing something foul from the kitchen.

smelling

sniff

Brief nasal inhalation

  • scentAirborne odor detected
  • aromaPleasant distinctive smell
  • odorPerceived atmospheric emission

fragrance · nose · inhale · snuffle · detect · catch · faint · trace · hint · waft

missing

swing

Suspended recreational seat

air · batter · baseball · fastball · curveball · pitcher · slider · changeup · strike · bat

Categories
Opposites
contact/success in striking

whiffingconnecting

Establishing a link

hitting · striking · crushing · smashing · belting

DETECTION/PERCEPTION (for smelling sense)

whiffingnose-blind

Unable to detect familiar scents

PERFORMANCE SUCCESS (general/figurative)

whiffingnailing it

Achieving flawless execution

crushing it · succeeding · hitting the mark · delivering · coming through

Family

whiff, whiffed, whiffs, whiffling

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G