catch a whiff

USAGE SUMMARY

"catch a whiff" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about a very faint smell that you notice, typically a pleasant one. Example: "As I walked around the rose garden, I caught a whiff of the sweet fragrances in the air."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

"Are you drunk?" Other patrons catch a whiff and then regard me with alarm.

The New Yorker

You can catch a whiff of desperation from the accompanying press release.

The Guardian - Music

Very occasionally, you catch a whiff of something similar about The Endless River.

The Guardian - Music

The Australians seemed to catch a whiff of Kim Hughes in all this.

The Guardian - Sport

I catch a whiff of something sweetish, fetid, and rotten, with floral notes.

The New Yorker

Sometimes I'd be out somewhere and catch a whiff of someone else's joint and hanker after a puff.

Independent

Sometimes it is possible to catch a whiff of a strong onionlike scent, if the wind is right.

The New York Times

I fear, though, that we have only just begun to catch a whiff of the stench that is approaching.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

I caught a whiff of something burning as I passed.

The New Yorker

I had caught a whiff of myself, and it was fragrant, familiar, even comforting.

The New York Times - Style

And if in her speculations she caught a whiff of something faintly rotten and imperial she ignored it.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "catch a whiff" to describe a brief or subtle experience of smelling something, often unexpectedly. It adds a touch of sensory detail to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "catch a whiff" repeatedly in a short span of writing. Variety in your descriptions will make your prose more engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catch a whiff" functions as a verb phrase describing the act of briefly perceiving a scent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to depict a faint or fleeting olfactory experience.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "catch a whiff" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe briefly noticing a smell. As indicated by Ludwig AI, its meaning is to perceive a faint or fleeting odor. It is versatile, fitting in various contexts, with a neutral register. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, this expression enriches writing by adding sensory detail. For alternative expressions, you could use '"get a scent of"' or '"detect an odor of"', each with their subtle differences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get a scent of

Focuses on obtaining a scent rather than a fleeting perception.

pick up the scent of

Describes the sensation of detecting the smell.

detect an odor of

Emphasizes the act of detecting a smell, potentially more formal.

sense an aroma of

Implies a subtle and often pleasant smell.

notice the fragrance of

Highlights the pleasant aspect of the smell being perceived.

perceive a scent of

More formal and emphasizes the sensory experience of perceiving a smell.

smell faintly of

Directly states the faint presence of a particular smell.

inhale the scent of

Focuses on the act of inhaling the scent, implying a deliberate action.

become aware of the odor of

More descriptive, focusing on the growing awareness of the smell.

get a noseful of

Informal way to describe smelling something strongly or suddenly.

FAQs

How can I use "catch a whiff" in a sentence?

You can use "catch a whiff" to describe briefly noticing a smell, as in "I "catch a whiff" of perfume as she walked by".

What does "catch a whiff" mean?

"Catch a whiff" means to briefly notice a smell, often unexpectedly or faintly. It implies a fleeting sensory experience.

Which is more appropriate, "catch a whiff" or "smell"?

"Catch a whiff" implies a brief, often faint, experience of smelling something. "Smell" is a more general term for perceiving odors. Use "catch a whiff" when you want to emphasize the fleeting or subtle nature of the scent.

What can I say instead of "catch a whiff"?

You can use alternatives like "get a scent of", "detect an odor of", or "notice the fragrance of" depending on the context.