smell of an oily rag
A very small amount, or the absolute minimum (usually of money).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He bought that old car for the smell of an oily rag.”
“The business was struggling, so they sold the equipment for the smell of an oily rag just to pay the rent.”
“Despite the property's prime location, the desperate owner accepted the smell of an oily rag to finalize the sale before the bank foreclosed.”
- 01
rag bagger
A sailor who tends to sail on messy cruising vessels.
- 02
run someone ragged
To exhaust; to demand excessive effort or work from somebody.
- 03
smell a rat
To sense something suspicious.
- 04
smell blood
To sense that one has an advantage over an adversary or rival.
- 05
smell fishy
To seem suspicious.
- 06
smell like a rose
To be regarded as appealing, virtuous, or respectable; to be untainted or unharmed.
- 07
smell like a tart's handbag
To smell strongly of perfume.
- 08
smell of the lamp
To bear marks of great study and labor.
Last updated August 10, 2026