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

1. cause to smell bad; fill with a bad smell