[Idiom] SMELL A RAT. - How to Detect Deception and Trust Your Instincts

suspect deception

When people 'Smell a rat', they suspect that something is wrong or that someone is being deceitful. This phrase likely originates from a time when rats were common pests that indicated a problem or disease. In modern use, if you smell a rat, you might question the truth behind someone's words or feel uneasy about a particular situation, acting on instinct much like how one would historically notice the hidden signs of rats lurking.

Example Sentences

1. I smell a rat; this deal seems too good to be true.

   I suspect there's something wrong; this deal seems suspicious.

2. She smelled a rat when the salesman avoided answering her questions.

   She felt something was off when the salesman avoided answering her questions.

3. He knew something was wrong when no one else showed up, he could smell a rat.

   He realized something was amiss when no one else showed up.