smell up
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: - To cause an unpleasant odor to be present; to fill an area with a bad smell.
Usage
This verb is used to describe the action of making something or some place smell unpleasant. It is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (the thing or place being filled with the bad smell). It is often used in informal contexts.
Examples
- Verb:
- The burnt popcorn will smell up the entire office.
- Please take out the garbage; it's starting to smell up the kitchen.
- His old gym bag smelled up the back seat of the car.
Advanced Usage
- Causative Effect: The phrase emphasizes the causative action. The subject of the verb is the source that actively creates the bad odor in the object.
- That factory really smells up the neighborhood.
- Passive Voice: Commonly used in the passive voice to describe the state of a place.
- The basement was smelled up by the dead mouse.
Variants and Related Words
- Stink up (verb, phrasal): A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "smell up," though it can imply a stronger, more offensive odor.
- That fish really stank up the refrigerator.
Synonyms
- Stink up: To fill with a strong, unpleasant smell.
- Foul: To make foul or unclean, especially with a bad smell.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Smell out: To discover or detect by smelling. (Note: This is a different phrasal verb with a different meaning).
- The dog smelled out the drugs.
Related Idioms
- Smell to high heaven: An idiom meaning to smell very bad or to be morally offensive or suspicious.
- This deal smells to high heaven; I don't trust it. (Note: This idiom is related to bad smells but is used figuratively.)
Verb
- cause to smell bad; fill with a bad smell