To detect bad smell
To misunderstand
To suspect a trick or deceit
To see hidden meaning
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
The correct answer is C. To suspect a trick or deceit.
To smell a rat is an idiom that means to suspect that something is wrong or that someone is not being honest. It is thought to have originated in the 16th century, when rats were often associated with disease and death. The idea is that if you smell a rat, you should be on your guard, as something bad may be about to happen.
The other options are incorrect. A. To detect bad smell is not the meaning of the idiom. B. To misunderstand is not the meaning of the idiom. D. To see hidden meaning is not the meaning of the idiom.
Here are some examples of how the idiom “to smell a rat” can be used in a sentence:
- “I smelled a rat when he told me that story. I don’t believe a word of it.”
- “I’m starting to smell a rat in this deal. I think they’re trying to take advantage of us.”
- “I knew there was something fishy going on. I smelled a rat from the beginning.”