smells rotten

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smells rotten" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that seems suspicious, dishonest, or morally wrong, often in a figurative sense. Example: "The deal they offered seemed too good to be true; something about it just smells rotten."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"I would like for the prosecutor and the investigative bodies not to present this fake of NTV, which smells rotten," Mr. Zyuganov said, "but to present real facts".

The New York Times

Charles Levinson (@levinsonc) Something bout Tamarod smells rotten @DavidKenner @shadihamid nobody knows which of their Twitter/FB accts reflects their official position.

The Guardian

Mr Mubarak's policy of helping Israel to punish Hamas by keeping Gaza shut in smells rotten to most of his people, and particularly to the many who sympathise with the Muslim Brotherhood, the resilient Egyptian wellspring of modern Islamism.

The Economist

Moreover, it has emerged that he was not alone in his suspicions: a market-surveillance lawyer who is still at the SEC confirmed to senators that he had given warning in an e-mail that "something smells rotten" about the investigation.

The Economist

If the soil smells rotten or sulfuric, there are probably some components that have not broken down properly.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Something smelled rotten".

The New Yorker

"It smelled rotten," says Hopper.

The Guardian

Like even the best French food, some myths start to smell rotten when they get too old.

The New York Times

This column was the first to smell rotten eggs in the Bush economic team.

Forbes

They also mocked up a disgust face: the wrinkled nose, raised lip, and narrowed eyes familiar to anyone who's smelled rotten eggs or stepped in something foul.

Science Magazine

In some instances, excess CO2 inhalation can lead to toxic sensorineural dysosmia resulting in olfactory distortions (parosmia) and hallucinations (phantosmia), and people have reported smelling "rotten gas" (H2S), and other smells, as well as narcoticeffects (Seevers 1944; Feldman et al. 1986).

Journal of Applied Volcanology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "smells rotten" to describe not only literal odors but also situations or deals that seem suspicious or dishonest.

Common error

Avoid using "smells rotten" solely for literal smells; its strength lies in conveying a sense of unease or suspicion about non-physical things.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smells rotten" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the state of something emitting an unpleasant odor, or metaphorically, to express suspicion or disapproval, as seen in examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "smells rotten" is a versatile expression used both literally to describe a foul odor and figuratively to indicate something is suspicious or corrupt. Ludwig's analysis shows the phrase is grammatically correct and most commonly found in News & Media sources. While generally informal, it can be used in neutral contexts. The phrase effectively conveys negativity, either through a sensory experience or judgmental expression. If you are looking for alternatives, "seems fishy" or "feels off" are good options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems fishy

Indicates something appears suspicious or questionable.

is suspicious

Directly states that something evokes suspicion.

feels off

Suggests something doesn't seem right or feels wrong.

has a bad odor

Focuses on the literal bad smell, implying decay.

reeks of corruption

Strongly suggests corruption or dishonesty.

gives off a stench

Implies a strong, unpleasant smell, either literal or figurative.

smells like something died

A more vivid and literal description of a foul smell.

is decaying

Describes the process of rotting or decomposing.

is tainted

Indicates something is corrupted or contaminated.

seems untrustworthy

Focuses on a lack of reliability or honesty.

FAQs

How can I use "smells rotten" in a sentence?

You can use "smells rotten" to describe something literal that has a bad odor or to describe something figurative that seems suspicious. For example, "The garbage smells rotten" or "That business deal smells rotten".

What are some alternatives to "smells rotten"?

You can use alternatives like "seems fishy", "is suspicious", or "feels off" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "smells rotten"?

The phrase "smells rotten" is appropriate when describing literal odors or when figuratively expressing that something seems corrupt, suspicious, or wrong. It's effective in both informal and journalistic contexts.

Is "smells rotten" formal or informal?

"Smells rotten" is generally considered informal but can be used in neutral contexts such as journalism. It is less appropriate for formal academic or business writing.