smacks of fudge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smacks of fudge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to suggest that something seems insincere, misleading, or not entirely truthful. Example: "His explanation for the missing funds smacks of fudge, and I don't believe it for a second."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Propping Asahi up smacks of fudge.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In 2008, I had built a "convention bounce adjustment" into the FiveThirtyEight presidential forecasting model but then removed it — most of the regular readers in the FiveThirtyEight community thought it smacked too much of fudging the numbers, and I concurred.

The New York Times

A finger of Fudge.

The Guardian - Opinion

The result is still a fudge, but a superior sort of fudge.

The Economist

"Oh," Ms. Hawkins began, laughing, "we kind of fudge that.

The New York Times

McCafferty was promised a lifetime supply of fudge.

The New Yorker

Two quid for a little square of fudge!?

The Guardian - Music

Add a generous serving of fudge sauce.

WikiHow

Mix in some tiny squares of fudge.

WikiHow

Try using toffee instead of fudge.

WikiHow

This recipe will make just over 1 pound of fudge.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "smacks of fudge" when you want to express that something seems intentionally misleading or clumsily deceptive, rather than overtly dishonest. It suggests a lack of sophistication in the attempt to deceive.

Common error

Avoid using "smacks of fudge" when describing situations involving serious or malicious deception. The phrase's gentle tone is inappropriate for severe contexts; opt for stronger terms like "outright lie" or "blatant manipulation" in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smacks of fudge" functions as an idiomatic expression. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it serves to express a judgment about a situation, suggesting that something is not entirely truthful or sincere. It's a subjective assessment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the expression "smacks of fudge" is a useful idiomatic phrase that communicates a sense of insincerity or clumsy deception. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Its usage is more common in news and media contexts. When writing, reserve this phrase for instances where you want to suggest a less-than-serious attempt at misleading, and consider alternatives like "rings false" or "seems dubious" for greater precision. Be mindful of the potential for misinterpretation in formal settings and consider a stronger or more direct term when describing severe dishonesty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is not entirely truthful

Directly states that something is not completely honest.

rings false

Focuses on the untruthful nature of something, emphasizing its lack of authenticity.

seems disingenuous

Points out a lack of sincerity or honesty in someone's actions or words.

smells fishy

Emphasizes suspicion and implies something is not right or honest.

seems dubious

Highlights the doubtful or questionable aspect of something.

appears contrived

Suggests that something is artificial and deliberately created, often to deceive.

has a hint of deception

Subtly suggests that there might be some degree of dishonesty involved.

sounds implausible

Focuses on the lack of believability and the unlikelihood of something being true.

feels like a cover-up

Implicates a deliberate attempt to hide the truth.

raises suspicion

Highlights that something is causing people to suspect dishonesty or wrongdoing.

FAQs

How can I use "smacks of fudge" in a sentence?

You can use "smacks of fudge" to indicate that something appears to be a clumsy or insincere attempt to deceive. For example, "His explanation for the discrepancy smacks of fudge, suggesting he's trying to hide something."

What's the difference between "smells fishy" and "smacks of fudge"?

"Smells fishy" generally implies a strong sense of suspicion and that something is not right. "Smacks of fudge" suggests a less severe deception, possibly implying a clumsy or poorly executed attempt to mislead.

What are some alternative phrases for "smacks of fudge"?

Alternatives include "rings false", "seems dubious", or "appears contrived", depending on the specific shade of meaning you want to convey.

Is "smacks of fudge" a formal expression?

No, "smacks of fudge" is not considered a formal expression. It's more appropriate for informal or neutral contexts. In formal writing, you might prefer a more direct or less colloquial phrase to convey the same meaning.