{"id":3606,"date":"2022-05-21T18:59:09","date_gmt":"2022-05-21T18:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=3606"},"modified":"2022-05-21T18:59:09","modified_gmt":"2022-05-21T18:59:09","slug":"i-smell-something-fishy-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/i-smell-something-fishy-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"I Smell Something Fishy \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a way to say you suspect foul play in a situation? If so, you could use \"I smell something fishy<\/em>\" to voice your concern. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \"I smell something fishy<\/em>\" means that you suspect foul play in a situation. The situation can range in severity, from questioning a colleague about stealing from the petty cash at the office to wondering why your dog is always sneaking behind the shed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The saying implies that you're aware of someone or something's suspicious activity, and it might be worth investigating it. It can also refer to situations that don't feel right, and there is no specific person to blame for the uneasy feeling.<\/p>\n

The phrase can also mean that you suspect someone of withholding the truth or acting in bad faith in an attempt to avoid blame or collaboration with another party. I smell something fishy can mean that you detect someone being dishonest or coy in their conversation with you, and you think it's worth digging deeper.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cSomething's fishy about that guy. He\u2019s always in the backroom on his lunch break, and the manager told me the stock count was down from the previous week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething's fishy about these readings. If it was increased solar activity, we would see it on the charts, but there is no correlation of the event.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomethings fishy with Mike's behavior. He\u2019s been going to work the night shift the last week, but he comes home smelling of perfume.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s something fishy with this report card, son. It looks like you altered it with white-out to change your grade.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s something fishy with Brenda wanting to come over to visit right after she broke up with Matt. I don\u2019t trust this girl, and I\u2019m not going to do anything stupid with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething smells fishy with this situation. The backup was supposed to be here five minutes ago, and all the radios just went dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is something fishy with all this. I can\u2019t put my finger on it right now, but there\u2019s something wrong with all this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201cI smell something fishy\u201d originates from the early 1800s. At the time, many people bought fish from street vendors at the local market. Fresh fish smelled very different from old fish, and the rotting smell gave away the fact that vendors were trying to offload old stock.<\/p>\n

The phrase then became a consumer staple when visiting the fish market. It spread through other categories of fresh goods as a way to signal to others that the vendor's produce or goods were old and rotting. Unfortunately, there is no written record of the first use of the phrase in English.<\/p>\n