smell the barn
To act with renewed energy or speed or to experience heightened anticipation as one approaches a destination, goal, or other desired outcome.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The horses run faster when they smell the barn.”
“I always smell the barn when I finish the last chapter of a book.”
“You really smell the barn once you start packing your bags for home.”
“We were tired after the long hike, but we started walking faster once we could smell the barn.”
“The marathon runners picked up their pace during the final mile because they could finally smell the barn.”
“After three weeks of traveling for work, I started to smell the barn as I drove toward my neighborhood.”
“As the final deadline approached, the team worked with renewed intensity, clearly beginning to smell the barn after months of exhaustive labor.”
The phrase refers to the behaviour of livestock returning to their quarters at the end of the day. It is most commonly associated with a horse drawing a carriage, which is said to increase its pace when it senses that the home journey is nearing its conclusion.
- 01
barn find
A valuable item recovered from poor storage, such as a suburban garage, farm shed, etc., where it had been more or less forgotten; especially a vintage automobile.
- 02
bit by a barn mouse
tipsy; slightly drunk
- 03
born in a barn
In a past tense: criticizing the person to whom the phrase is directed for inappropriately, and usually neglectingly, leaving an exterior door or window open, considered ill-mannered.
- 04
not be able to hit the broad side of a barn
To have very poor aim, such as while using firearms or in sports.
- 05
pony in the barn
An exciting and real prospect, something to be legitimately excited about.
- 06
smell a rat
To sense something suspicious.
- 07
smell blood
To sense that one has an advantage over an adversary or rival.
- 08
smell fishy
To seem suspicious.
Last updated August 10, 2026