đánh mùi
Definition
- Verb:
- To catch a scent / to sniff out: The primary meaning of "đánh mùi" is to detect or perceive a smell, often used for animals using their sense of smell to track something.
- To get wind of / to sense intuitively: In a figurative sense, it means to intuitively sense or become aware of something, such as a hidden situation or someone's intentions, often before there is clear evidence.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Con chó đánh mùi thấy tên trộm. (The dog sniffed out the thief.)
- Nhà báo đó đánh mùi được một vụ bê bối sắp xảy ra. (That journalist got wind of an upcoming scandal.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is often used in contexts involving investigation, detection, or intuition, where something is discovered through subtle clues rather than direct observation.
Variants and Related Words
- Đánh hơi (v): This is a direct synonym meaning to sniff, to scent. "Đánh mùi" is considered equivalent to "đánh hơi."
- Cảnh sát sử dụng chó nghiệp vụ để đánh hơi ma túy. (The police use service dogs to sniff out drugs.)
Synonyms
- To sniff: to draw in air through the nose to detect a smell.
- To scent: to perceive or detect by smell.
- To get wind of: to hear a rumor or sense something indirectly.
Related Idioms
- While "đánh mùi" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, its synonym "đánh hơi" is used in similar figurative contexts to mean sensing or detecting something hidden.