smell behind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smell behind" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a scent or odor that is detected from a location or object that is positioned behind something else. Example: "As I walked past the bakery, I caught a delightful smell behind the door that made my mouth water."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

No matter how hard he and his team pedal, though, they cannot leave entirely the smell behind which, at times, has threatened to suffocate the sport - the smell of drug abuse.

BBC

Emi Mamiya, 29, allegedly said her husband went to the bathroom and left an intolerably bad smell behind on the afternoon of April 12, according to Japanese wire service Jiji Press.

Huffington Post

To thoroughly deodorize urine smells without leaving a smell behind, create a deodorizing solution.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

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Vice

But in 1910, the term "BO --short for BO --short-was coined BO --shortsers, and women were targeted by ads which showed men talking about the way they smelled behind their backs.

Huffington Post

The main thing that strikes me about Rother is the sense of it being exquisitely well-tended – not in that Cotswolds way, where you can just smell money from behind high hedges, but rather, in its public spaces.

The Guardian

Leaving the smell of urine behind will only drive her to keep doing it.

WikiHow

Only when a familiar smell reached me did I look behind.

Vice

You need to remove the smell that ants leave behind, as it is the trail they follow.

WikiHow

It can leave a very powerful and strong scent behind, which your teacher can easily smell.

WikiHow

It initially had a rubbing alcohol smell, but left behind no odor whatsoever.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene, use "smell behind" to add sensory detail and create a more immersive experience for the reader. For example, "Behind the curtain, the acrid smell of smoke lingered."

Common error

Ensure clarity by specifying the source of the "smell behind". Without context, it may be unclear what is causing the odor or where it is coming from. For example, clarify if it's "the smell of gas behind the stove" rather than just "smell behind".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smell behind" functions primarily as a noun phrase followed by a preposition indicating the origin or location of the smell. Ludwig AI confirms this, with several examples illustrating the use of "smell behind" to pinpoint the source of an odor.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "smell behind" is a grammatically correct but relatively rare way to describe an odor originating from a specific location, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not frequently encountered, it can be effective in descriptive writing to add sensory detail. Primarily found in News & Media and Wiki contexts, its register is generally neutral. To improve clarity, it is crucial to specify the source of the smell and to avoid ambiguity. For alternatives, consider "odor from behind" or "scent from the rear".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

odor from behind

Replaces "smell" with "odor", which is a synonym, emphasizing the scent's origin.

scent from the rear

Substitutes "smell" with "scent" and "behind" with "rear", offering a slightly more formal tone.

aroma trailing back

Changes "smell" to "aroma" implying a more pleasant scent, and uses "trailing back" to indicate direction.

fragrance wafting from the back

Replaces "smell" with "fragrance" to convey a positive scent, and uses "wafting" to describe its movement.

the scent in the wake

Employs 'in the wake' to suggest the smell is following something, providing an evocative image.

detecting an odor posteriorly

Replaces "smell" with "odor" and "behind" with "posteriorly", employing more technical language.

a lingering smell

Focuses on the persistence of the smell rather than its location.

trace of smell remaining

Highlights the residual nature of the smell, differing from the direct spatial relation.

whiff from the back

Replaces "smell" with "whiff" to suggest a brief, light scent, with "from the back" indicating location.

reek emanating back

Substitutes "smell" with "reek", which is strongly negative and suggests a foul smell, using "emanating" to imply origin.

FAQs

How can I use "smell behind" in a sentence?

Use "smell behind" to describe an odor originating from a specific location. For example, "There was a strange "smell behind the refrigerator"".

What does "smell behind" mean?

It refers to detecting a scent or odor coming from the rear or a location that is behind something else.

What are some alternatives to "smell behind"?

You can use phrases like "odor from behind" or "scent from the rear" depending on the context.

Is "smell behind" grammatically correct?

Yes, "smell behind" is grammatically correct, although it's relatively uncommon. It accurately describes an odor emanating from a specific location.