have smelled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have smelled" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the present perfect tense to indicate an experience of smelling something at an unspecified time in the past. Example: "I have smelled the flowers in the garden, and they are delightful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I have smelled barbecues.

The New York Times

Something must have smelled good.

The New York Times

Constance must have smelled sewage.

The New York Times - Books

Satish must have smelled it, too.

The New Yorker

A few high-flyers have smelled profits.

The Economist

They must have smelled a rat.

The New York Times - Magazine

Some Democrats have smelled the rat.

The Guardian - Opinion

That is to say, it would have smelled like anticipation.

The New Yorker

They have smelled the acrid sleeping gas, people say.

The New York Times

Any follower of Eugene Fama would have smelled a rat.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

He would have smelt it, though.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating suspicion or intuition, consider using "have smelled a rat" metaphorically, suggesting you suspect deceit or a problem.

Common error

Avoid using "have smelled" when simply describing a current state. Instead of "The kitchen has smelled good since this morning", use "The kitchen smells good since this morning" or "The kitchen has been smelling good since this morning".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have smelled" functions as a present perfect construction, indicating a completed action (smelling) at an unspecified time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing various sensory experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have smelled" is a grammatically sound and frequently used present perfect construction, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to describe past experiences related to perceiving odors, with a secondary metaphorical use indicating suspicion. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, this phrase maintains a neutral register and finds application across diverse contexts, from academia to everyday conversation. Remember to use it to describe past experiences and avoid misusing the tense in present descriptions, while considering alternatives like "have detected an odor" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have detected an odor

Focuses on the action of detecting an odor, emphasizing the sensory perception.

have perceived a scent

Highlights the conscious awareness of a scent, suggesting a more delicate or subtle experience.

have sensed an aroma

Emphasizes the pleasant or fragrant nature of the smell.

have caught a whiff of

Indicates a brief or fleeting encounter with a smell.

have recognized the fragrance

Stresses the identification of a specific fragrance, implying familiarity.

have picked up the scent of

Suggests a more active or intentional seeking out of a particular smell.

have identified the smell

Emphasizes the ability to name or categorize the odor.

have noticed the odor

Highlights a general awareness of a smell, without necessarily identifying its specific nature.

have suspected something amiss

Shifts the focus to detecting a potential problem or issue, rather than a literal smell.

have anticipated a problem

Suggests foreseeing a difficulty or issue, similar to "smelling a rat" metaphorically.

FAQs

How can I use "have smelled" in a sentence?

You can use "have smelled" to describe a past experience of perceiving a scent, such as "I "have smelled jasmine" in that garden before". It indicates the action of smelling occurred at some point in the past.

What's the difference between "have smelled" and "smelled"?

"Smelled" is the simple past tense, describing a completed action at a specific time (e.g., "I smelled smoke yesterday"). "Have smelled" is the present perfect tense, indicating an experience that occurred at an unspecified time in the past and may have relevance to the present (e.g., "I "have smelled smoke", so there might be a fire").

What does it mean to say someone "has smelled a rat"?

To say someone "has smelled a rat" is an idiom meaning they suspect deceit or treachery. It's a metaphorical use of "have smelled", implying they've detected something suspicious. For example, "I "have smelled a rat" since the deal was proposed".

Is it correct to say "I have smelt" instead of "I have smelled"?

Both "smelled" and "smelt" are past participles of "smell", and "I have smelt" is a valid alternative to "I have smelled", though "have smelled" is more common in American English. Both are grammatically correct.