# nose test

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/nose-test
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety.

## Examples

- That deal sounds too good, so give it the nose test.
- Before you sign that contract, give it the nose test to see if it feels right.
- The proposal failed the nose test, as the underlying motives seemed far more self-serving than the presentation suggested.

## Origin

The term is derived from the suggestion that the character or quality of an object may be reliably identified by how it smells.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.