What does it Mean to ‘Smell a Rat’?

To smell a rat means to suspect something suspicious; to think that something is wrong.

This phrase has its origins in medieval times when the houses were infested with rats. People used to keep cats as pets to keep the rodent population in control. So, if a cat smelt a rat, something was suspicious.

Let’s see an example —

“The moment I walked into my room, I smelt a rat. I had been robbed.”

I suspected something suspicious when I walked into my room. I had been robbed.

I hope you found this story interesting. If you did, buy my full course on Udemy, or watch it for free on Skillshare by signing up here. This course covers nearly 380 idioms with their origins and backstories.

Hi, I am Gauri Shanker, a Vocab teacher and enthusiast. I teach vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. You can check out my courses here.