mid-14c., of imitative origin; possibly related to snyvelen (see snivel). As an expression of scorn or contempt from 1729. As a synonym for smell (v.) it dates from 1845. In reference to cocaine from 1925. Related: Sniffed; sniffing.
sniff (n.)
1767, from sniff (v.); the scornful sense is from 1859.
雙語例句
1. Have the Press got a sniff yet?
新聞界嗅到了一點(diǎn)消息沒有？
來自柯林斯例句
2. Take a sniff at everything and distinguish the good from the bad.
對(duì)任何東西都要用鼻子嗅一嗅,鑒別其好壞.
來自《現(xiàn)代英漢綜合大詞典》
3. Have a sniff of this medicine — It'smells revolting, doesn't it?
聞一下這種藥——它有一種令人作嘔的味道, 對(duì) 嗎 ?
來自《簡(jiǎn)明英漢詞典》
4. But really, what harm could it possibly do to pop down there and just sniff around?
不過說真的，馬上趕到那里去打探一下情況會(huì)有什么壞處呢？
來自柯林斯例句
5. Highbrow critics sniff that the programme was "too sophisticated" to appeal to most viewers.