wreak of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wreak of" is not correct in standard English; the correct phrase is "reek of." You can use "reek of" to describe something that has a strong, unpleasant smell or to indicate that something is strongly suggestive of a particular quality or characteristic.
Example: "The room reeked of smoke after the party."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Does your entree wreak of blandness?

Huffington Post

The two diverse stars, who as an old school wrestling tandem might gush "wreak of awesomeness," are hitting the road together to promote their new albums; Robyn's "Body Talk PT 1" drops June 15 while Kelis' "Fleshtone" arrives July 6.

Huffington Post

Leaning in for a kiss from your loved one could end up less than romantic if you both wreak of boiled broccoli.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Finally, there is no more powerful antidote to the havoc we can wreak out of the desperate hunger to prove we matter than to truly serve others without expectation of reward.

The New York Times

It describes in precise detail how the warming planet will wreak hundreds of billions of dollars of damage in coming decades.

The New York Times

Beyond the dangers to people and animals, the algae wreak tens of billions of dollars of damage on commercial fishing and on the recreational and vacation trades.

The New York Times

"The Germans positively wreaked of liniment.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Friedman's slanted history of U.S. military intervention around the world wreaks of sentimentalism.

The New York Times

I was covered in brown splatter, wreaked of a horrible stench, and felt aches in my back.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Interested readers should learn about the vision of the Big Wave Project before judging, clearly you did not bother to, your cynicism wreaks of privilege.

University of California, Berkeley

Indeed, the sports leagues' desire to receive an "integrity fee" from any expansion of legalized sports gambling wreaks of poor integrity.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "wreak of". The correct term for indicating a strong smell or suggestion is "reek of".

Common error

Do not confuse "wreak", which means to cause or inflict, with "reek", which means to emit a strong, unpleasant smell. Using "wreak of" instead of "reek of" is a common error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wreak of" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase to indicate a strong, often unpleasant smell or a strong suggestion of something is "reek of". As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33.33%

Wiki

33.33%

Academia

33.33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "wreak of" is incorrect in standard English. The correct phrase is "reek of", used to describe a strong smell or a strong suggestion of something. Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical error. While examples exist, they represent incorrect usage. When aiming to express the idea of a strong smell or indication, remember to use "reek of" instead. As Ludwig AI indicates, there are better and more formal alternatives available, such as "smack of" or simply "suggest".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reek of

Emphasizes a strong, usually unpleasant smell or a strong suggestion of something.

smack of

Suggests a distinct characteristic or quality, often negative.

hint at

Suggests something indirectly.

suggest

Indicates something is likely or possible.

exude

Implies radiating a quality or feeling.

give off

To emit or radiate something, can be a smell or a feeling.

emanate

Describes something that issues or spreads out from a source.

cause

Focuses on the action of bringing about a result.

trigger

Highlights the initiation of an event or process.

bring about

Emphasizes the action of causing something to happen.

FAQs

What is the correct phrase: "wreak of" or "reek of"?

The correct phrase is "reek of", which means to emit a strong, unpleasant smell or to strongly suggest something. "Wreak" means to cause or inflict something, typically damage or harm.

When should I use "reek of"?

Use "reek of" when you want to describe a strong, unpleasant smell or suggest that something strongly indicates a particular quality or characteristic.

What does "wreak" mean?

"Wreak" means to cause or inflict, especially something violent or damaging. For example, "The storm wreaked havoc on the coast."

What can I say instead of "wreak of" if I want to indicate a strong suggestion or characteristic?

Instead of the incorrect "wreak of", you can use phrases like "smack of", "hint at", or simply "suggest", depending on the specific context you are trying to convey.